America’s story is inspiring, high illiteracy rates mean so many still can’t read it, the next president must change this – The Oakland Press

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By Pam Good

Guest columnist

Millions of children across the United States are currently suffering from a silent epidemic. That epidemic is illiteracy, and though it is widespread, it is easily solvable. It is not a new issue, but one that has affected students for decades. We must ask ourselves why we have let this continue for so long.

More importantly, we must ask what we need to do to change the present state of literacy. Our children are the future leaders of this country. How prepared they are for this responsibility greatly depends upon the outcome of the upcoming presidential election and the direction swing states decide to vote. It is imperative that literacy is a leading campaign issue and a top priority for the next administration.

Children everywhere in the U.S. are not getting the education they are counting on. In each state, at least half of the students read below grade level, and in most states this number is closer to 75 percent. These children trust they will be prepared for adulthood, and yet it is common to find high school seniors still reading at a kindergarten level. Many of these students are handed their diplomas and sent out into a world that expects them to be well-educated and able to compete with their peers.

That is an impossible expectation for someone who cannot read.

Plenty of students who struggle with reading do not even make it this far, having already given up and dropped out of school before they could graduate. In either case, these young people are on a path of life lined with limited options and much hardship. They will most likely have difficulty finding work, leading to years of economic challenges. Many will turn to crime and end up in jail.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the Justice Department, 85 percent of juveniles and 70 percent of inmates cannot read proficiently. The recidivism rate among juveniles decreases from 70 percent to 16 percent when literacy help is provided. How different our society would look if so many of these people in prison had simply been given the education they were supposed to receive.

This is just one example of how the inability to read sets people up for a lifetime of defeat, the effects of which will perpetuate a cycle of poverty for generations. Literacy breaks this cycle and replaces it with equity and opportunity. If equity and opportunity are objectives of the next administration, the starting point is literacy.

Both candidates have set their sights on preparing the next generation to operate in a high-tech society. As our country moves in this direction, we will soon need people trained in the skills to create a smart force for a high-tech military and able to fill high-tech positions in the arising smart work force. A powerful defense department and competitive workforce development programs are essential for America to keep up with other technologically advancing countries, but this is only possible with a literate population.

The Department of Defense, specifically the US Army, Navy, and Air Force, all fell short of their recruitment targets for FY 2023, with 47 percent of Americans aged 17-24 failing the Armed Forces Qualification Test or lacking a high school diploma. This situation underscores the broader issues the military faces in attracting eligible recruits from this demographic

The current state of literacy must significantly improve if we hope to remain a strong nation. But before any of this can be actualized, our children need to feel motivated to achieve these goals, and this requires a deep love for their country. It is up to the next president to instill this patriotism in them.

Those who are able to freely read the historical documents and literature that shape the inspiring story of America will be the citizens who are proud to sustain our position as a leading country. If our population cannot read, our story and rich civic values will be forgotten, and the spirit of patriotism will become non-existent. Divisions will grow as our civic bond is lost. A nation’s story is what holds its people together and nurtures a sense of community, and perhaps this is the primary reason we must ensure every person is fully literate, so we can all share the love for America that has brought us this far and must propel us into future greatness.

Fortunately, some key steps have been taken to reverse the illiteracy epidemic. To date, 39 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws that enforce research-backed literacy curricula in schools. However, this will not be enough until students in every classroom are given the evidence-based instruction they need to become efficient readers.

A study conducted in the past year shows that only 6% of parents are very satisfied with their child’s literacy curricula (Impact Research). Additionally, an astounding 80% of parents prefer phonics instruction over three-cueing (Impact Research).

These statistics show that literacy is an important topic in the minds of parents everywhere. It could even be the issue that persuades swing states to vote, considering most children in each of these states read below grade level. In Michigan, for example, 71% of 8th graders cannot read proficiently, making literacy a primary concern for voters in this swing state. If presidential candidates want to send a message that resonates with swing states, they must promote phonics-based curricula. Many states have already stepped up to the task, but others have yet to make these crucial changes for children. Voters in these states look to the next president to support effective literacy legislation.

One-on-one, phonics-based tutoring is proven to be the best solution. Children who build an individual relationship with their tutor have the benefit of receiving instruction personalized to their learning needs. Tutors that administer a diagnostic assessment are best able to pinpoint exactly where a child is struggling, resulting in rapid learning gains. Students who attend these sessions for an hour each day, five days per week show incredible growth, with many advancing an entire grade level in just six weeks. Dedicated educators around the world want to utilize a model that produces these amazing outcomes. The presidential candidates must demonstrate that they will make this model accessible to all students to ensure every child reads. By prioritizing this during their campaigns and taking necessary action during the next administration, literacy can become a reality for everyone.

Children across the nation are counting on adults to provide them with the resources they need to achieve full literacy. Every student in the United States of America deserves an equal shot at success. When these children succeed, it is a win for all of us.

Pam Good is the founder and CEO of Beyond Basics, a nonprofit organization that works with school districts to improve literacy in Michigan.

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