Advancing Adolescent Literacy: Why States Must Extend the Science of Reading Beyond Third Grade
By: Kelley Bendheim, Ed.D., ExcelinEd
For more than a decade, states have invested heavily in early literacy policies to ensure that every student reads proficiently by the end of third grade. These efforts, backed by the science of reading, have changed the trajectory for countless young learners. But despite critical improvements in early literacy policy, students can still fall through the cracks. As they move into upper grades, texts get tougher, expectations rise and skill gaps widen. While reading struggles that began early often grow more serious over time, most state policies stop short of supporting adolescent readers. To truly prepare students for lifelong success, literacy policy and support must continue beyond the early grades.
The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading results were a wake-up call. Eighth grade students scored an average of 257 on the national reading assessment—down from 259 in 2022 and 262 in 2019. No state improved, eight declined, and the remaining states flatlined. Even more concerning, eighth grade reading scores haven’t shown real progress in more than 30 years. These numbers make one thing clear: a strong start in early literacy isn’t enough. Students need continued, high-quality reading instruction through middle and high school to build the critical reading skills needed to analyze complex texts and engage with content across every subject.
In grades 4-8, many students face reading roadblocks that go far beyond sounding out words. They may lack basic skills that should have been mastered in earlier grades—like decoding and fluency—or struggle with comprehension because they don’t have the background knowledge or vocabulary needed to make sense of what they’re reading. When adolescent reading challenges go unaddressed, the effects ripple far beyond the classroom—limiting opportunities, economic mobility and participation in civic life. The stakes could not be higher as more than half of U.S. adults read below a sixth grade level.
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