Literary crisis should be a priority

The National Center for Education Statistics today released the Nation’s Report Card on mathematics and reading assessment findings across the country for fourth and eighth grade students.

Compared to 2013, eighth grade students saw two point reading losses while fourth grade students remained unchanged. On average, 65 percent of students are not considered to be proficient in reading. This continues a deeply troubling pattern of low reading results among American students that urgently needs to be addressed by our nation’s leaders.

In a press release, Reading Is Fundamental stated, “Sustained, significant investment is needed in our education system if the U.S. is to avoid falling further behind, with particular emphasis placed on supporting those children from low-income families and minority groups who are especially at risk of academic failure.”

The group sees the report as call to action: “Today’s results reaffirm our view that the literacy crisis should be regarded as a national priority, and we hope that all Americans will join us to help this next generation read with success.”

The Florida results showed little change in Math and Reading since 2007: