The $30 million literacy crisis

A recent report reveals that only 31% of fourth graders in the US are reading proficiently, with achievement gaps widening and student performance declining.

According to the report, since 2013, reading scores have been steadily dropping, and the pandemic only accelerated this trend that was already underway.

Fourth and eighth graders now score two points below their 2022 levels, and the gap between the lowest and highest performing students has grown to approximately 100 points over the past decade.

Teacher unions and preparation programs under fire

Teacher unions and preparation programs are being criticized for focusing on political activism rather than evidence-based reading instruction, exacerbating the learning crisis.

The American Federation of Teachers is considering a resolution that would allow activist teachers to present contested geopolitical opinions as established fact, such as labeling the situation in Gaza as genocide.

Unions have opposed legislation that would implement the science of reading, a data-backed approach proven to improve literacy, and have dismissed concerns about learning loss.

Teacher preparation programs: a root of the problem

A recent report reviewed nearly 700 teacher preparation programs and found that only 25% adequately cover all five core components of science-based reading instruction.

Another 25% fail to cover even one component adequately , instead prioritizing activist frameworks aimed at creating social justice warriors.

The unions have done little to demand better training and have deflected attention from the results, masking failure with inflated grades.

Who is to blame?

The system is failing millions of children, leaving them without the foundational skill of reading.

As the crisis deepens, it is clear that urgent action is needed, not political activism.

The question remains : who will take responsibility for this failure and work towards a solution that prioritizes reading instruction over activism?

What auditors flagged in the May filing

A recent report reviewed the American Federation of Teachers' May filing and found that the union is considering a resolution that would allow activit teachers to present contested geopolitical opinions as established fact.

The resolution expressly permits teaching this framing to children as young as five without offering alternative perspectives .

This move has been criticized as a further exacerbation of the learning crisis, as it prioritizes ideological causes over evidence-based reading instruction.

Broader implications

The literacy crisis has far-reaching implications, affecting not only individual students but also the broader community.

As the crisis deepens, it is clear that urgent action is needed to address the root causes of the problem and prioritize reading instruction over activism.

The question remains: what will it take to turn the tide and ensure that all students have access to effective reading instruction?

Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the status quo is no longer acceptable.

Open questions

Who will take responsibility for the failure of the education system to prioritize reading instruction over activism?

What will it take to turn the tide and ensure that all students have access to effective reading instruction?

Will the unions and preparation programs prioritize evidence-based reading instruction or continue to focus on ideological causes?

Only time will tell, but one thing is certain : the status quo is no longer acceptable.