Is America Facing a Literacy Crisis?

The Atlantic (Left bias) published an analysis alleging that "the end of reading is here" for Americans, arguing that Americans read "much less than they used to," even as compared to 20 years ago. Is America facing a literacy crisis? What do outlets across the political spectrum have to say?

The End of Reading: The Atlantic's piece noted that in 2022, fewer than half of all American adults read a book of any kind. It also reported that 16% of adults read for pleasure in 2023, as opposed to 28% in 2004, and that only 35% of high school seniors in 2024 had proficient literacy skills like evaluating the effectiveness of an argument or analyzing complex themes. Both children and adults have declining reading and literacy statistics, though "young people today have never experienced a world" without smartphones and social media and thus may have started with a weaker foundation in literacy and brain development. Ultimately, the writer questions if America—or the world—is entering a "post-literate" era due to the inundation of digital media.

Post-COVID Schooling: The Christian Broadcasting Network (Right) reported that more than six years after schools were forced online during the COVID-19 pandemic, "schools are showing signs of academic recovery" and many students "still perform below pre-pandemic levels." CBN highlighted that while wealthy school districts have recovered quickly along with low-income districts that received substantial federal relief funding during the pandemic, middle-income districts continue to lag behind. One professor told CBN that "the 'learning recession' started a decade ago, after policymakers switched off the early warning system of test-based accountability and social media took over children's lives." However, CBN also highlighted that attendance has dropped drastically since 2020, with nearly 25% of students considered "chronically absent." Experts speaking with CBN argued that "stronger partnerships among teachers, parents, and students are key" to strengthening students' literacy and performance, and currently literacy issues reveal that "it's time now to make our public schools once again the engine of the American dream."

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