Missouri’s Reading Crisis: 42% of Fourth-Graders Can Barely Read
Missouri is in a reading crisis. Forty-two percent of the state’s fourth-graders can barely read, the worst results in twenty years. When students reach third grade without strong reading skills, they fall behind in every subject and many never catch up. Other states have taken steps to reverse declining reading scores, and Missouri can too, but only if state leaders act with the urgency this crisis calls for. Reform cannot wait. The materials linked below outline the evidence-based model policy Missouri needs to begin reversing its reading decline.
The Early Literacy Reform Model Policy Packet includes:
• An infographic with key facts about Missouri’s reading crisis
• Frequently asked questions for policymakers
• Full model policy language for early literacy reforms
• A detailed policy brief with research and state comparisons
• Contact information for policy experts
