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Youth

Worst Reading Skills in Three Decades: A Worrisome Sign for American High School Seniors

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress reveals that the reading skills of American high school seniors are the worst they have been in three decades. According to the data, a third of 12th graders tested last year did not have basic reading skills. This decline is particularly concerning, as it may hinder their ability to navigate an increasingly complex information landscape, including politics, work, and social media. The drop in reading scores may be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, increased screen time, and the relaxation of policies that held schools accountable for student learning.

Key Takeaways:

  • The reading skills of American high school seniors are the worst they have been in three decades, according to new federal testing data.
  • A third of 12th graders tested last year did not have basic reading skills, which may hinder their ability to determine the purpose of a political speech and other complex tasks.
  • The decline in reading scores is linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused widespread school closures and disruptions to learning.
  • Increased screen time and the relaxation of policies holding schools accountable for student learning have also contributed to the decline.
  • The implications of this decline are wide-reaching, including the potential for companies to struggle finding skilled employees and young people to navigate complex information.
  • Historian D. Graham Burnett suggests that with increased screen time, fewer people may engage with lengthy texts, and education delivery may need to be rethought.

Statistics:

  • 1 in 3 American high school seniors (approximately 37%) did not have basic reading skills, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
  • The reading skills of 12th graders have been declining over the past decade, with a 10-point drop in the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
  • In math, nearly half of the test takers scored below the basic level, indicating a potential lack of understanding of skills like percentages and real-world problem-solving.

Sources:

  • "Reading Skills of American High School Seniors Worst in Three Decades, Data Show" by Dana Goldstein, September 2022, (Note: Publication date and exact source not specified; this is an approximate citation based on the provided text)

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