Millions of children nationwide are suffering from a silent epidemic. That epidemic is illiteracy. 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.
More important, 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 presidential election’s outcome and the direction in which swing states decide to vote. Literacy must be a leading campaign issue and a priority for the next administration.
Children everywhere are not getting the education they are counting on. In each state, at least half of the students read below grade level; in most states, this number is closer to 75 percent. These children trust they will be prepared for adulthood. 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.
Many students who struggle with reading do not 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 and the Justice Department, 85 percent of juveniles and 70 percent of inmates cannot read proficiently. Juvenile recidivism rates decrease 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 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 an intelligent force for a high-tech military and able to fill high-tech positions. A powerful defense department and competitive workforce development programs are essential for America to keep up with other technologically advancing countries, but this is possible only with a literate population.
The Department of Defense, specifically the Army, Navy and Air Force, all fell short of their recruitment targets for 2023, with 47 percent of Americans 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.
Literacy must significantly improve if we hope to remain a strong nation. Before any of this can be realized, children need to feel motivated to achieve these goals, which requires a deep love for their country. It is up to the next president to instill this patriotism in them. Those who can 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 holds its people together and nurtures a sense of community. Perhaps this is the primary reason we must ensure every person is 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 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. 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 percent of parents are satisfied with their child’s literacy curricula (Impact Research). Additionally, 80 percent of parents prefer phonics instruction over three-cueing (Impact Research).
These statistics show that literacy is a crucial topic in parents’ minds everywhere. It could even be the issue that persuades swing states to vote, considering most children in these states read below grade level.
For example, 71 percent of 8th graders in Michigan cannot read proficiently, making literacy a primary concern for voters. If presidential candidates want to send a message that resonates in 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 benefit from receiving instruction personalized to their learning needs. Tutors who administer a diagnostic assessment are best able to pinpoint precisely where a child is struggling, resulting in rapid learning gains. Students who attend these sessions for an hour daily, five days weekly, show incredible growth, with many advancing an entire grade level in six weeks.
Dedicated educators worldwide want to use 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 nationwide are counting on adults to provide them with the resources they need to achieve literacy. Every student deserves an equal shot at success. When these children succeed, it is a win for all of us.
