However, some states and school districts are showing positive signs thanks to innovative approaches to teaching reading and increased support for students.
In a classroom in Modesto, California, before each important test, teacher Nancy Barajas often dims the lights and plays music so the students can dance together. This "pre-test celebration" helps students feel more confident before taking the exam. Such small changes are happening in many schools in Modesto, where reading and math scores have steadily improved over the past few years.
However, the overall picture of American education is not promising. Researchers warn that the United States is experiencing a “reading decline” as reading comprehension scores have been steadily falling for more than a decade.
A study from Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth universities, based on data from more than 5,000 school districts in 38 states, shows that American students are still nearly half a level behind in reading comprehension compared to before the pandemic. Researchers suggest that smartphones and social media are causing children to read less, leading to a decline in reading comprehension skills.
Professor Thomas Kane of Harvard University, USA, commented: "Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the reading comprehension scores of eighth-grade students had been declining since 2013, and those of fourth-grade students since 2015. The pandemic was just like a 'landslide' that exposed the problems after years of declining academic performance."
Nevertheless, some states have made significant progress. Louisiana, Maryland, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana have all improved their reading comprehension scores by adopting a phonics-based teaching method, also known as "reading science ." This method focuses on helping children spell and recognize sounds rather than guessing the meaning of words from context, as many previous teaching methods did.
In addition, states are increasing dyslexia screening, teacher training, and supplementing support programs for struggling students. In Modesto, teachers are paid an extra $5,000 to complete intensive LETRS training in teaching reading and spelling. As a result, learning outcomes have improved to the equivalent of 13 weeks of extra reading lessons and 18 weeks of extra math lessons.
Meanwhile, Southern states are leading the way in education reform. Louisiana is currently the only state to surpass pre-pandemic reading scores, and Louisiana and Alabama are the only two states whose 2025 math scores will be higher than before Covid-19.
Alabama also implemented legislation requiring all schools to adopt a phonics-based approach to teaching reading and extended the reform to mathematics.
However, experts acknowledge that the U.S. still has a long way to go to fully recover. Many students are still not at the appropriate level for their grade. Positive results in Modesto, Detroit, and the Southern states show that improving education is entirely possible with the right strategy, systematic investment, and high expectations for students.
Nikolai Vitti, Director of the Detroit Department of Education, said: “To improve students’ reading comprehension and academic performance, teachers in the state have put in tremendous effort. They constantly motivate, inspire, change teaching methods and learning environments, and even visit students’ homes to provide guidance.”
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