Map Shows States Where Children’s Reading Scores Are Getting Worse
Summary
New research from Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth shows that reading scores for U.S. students have been declining for about ten years, not just because of COVID-19. While a few states have improved, most have seen little progress or further decline in reading skills, and children nationally still read below pre-pandemic levels.Key Facts
- Reading scores have been falling in the U.S. for roughly a decade, starting around 2013.
- The COVID-19 pandemic made reading declines worse but was not the original cause.
- Only five states and the District of Columbia showed significant reading improvements from 2022 to 2025.
- Improvements often link to early literacy programs that teach how letters and sounds connect (phonics-based instruction).
- Most states have flat or declining reading results, indicating a "reading recession."
- National data shows more students are not meeting basic reading skills after the pandemic.
- Problems like chronic absenteeism and student mental health also affect reading progress.
- Other possible causes include less focus on early test accountability and increased social media and smartphone use reducing reading time and concentration.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.