The decline in literacy rates among American high school seniors has sparked concerns about the future of reading skills in the country. Experts point to various factors, including a dwindling number of teens who read for pleasure and a widening gap between high- and low-achieving students.
According to Martin West, academic dean and professor of education at Harvard Graduate School of Education, American students’ literacy skills peaked in the mid-2010s but have been declining since then. While the COVID pandemic may have contributed to the decline, it’s not the only factor, as reading scores for high school seniors have been falling steadily since 2017.
Phil Capin, assistant professor and reading researcher at HGSE, notes that there are multiple factors contributing to the decline, including socioeconomic disparities and funding issues. “We’re seeing a huge gap between students based on socioeconomic factors,” he says. “And children that come from low SES families are much less likely to perform well in reading than students that come from high SES.”
Pamela Mason, co-chair of the Teaching and Teacher Leadership Program at HGSE, emphasizes the importance of modeling literacy skills for students. “We’re telling our students reading is important, but when do we actually model that?” she asks.
The conversation also touches on the debate between balanced literacy and the science of reading approaches to teaching reading. Mason notes that phonics instruction has been shown to be effective in improving literacy skills, while Capin emphasizes the importance of providing instruction tailored to individual students’ needs.
Experts also highlight the need for policymakers to take advantage of the growing concern about literacy rates and work towards aligning practice with research on the science of reading. As West says, “The big question they face is how to turn that into an opportunity to better align what’s going on in American classrooms and American homes.”
Overall, experts agree that addressing the decline in literacy rates requires a multifaceted approach, including policy changes, professional development for teachers, and a focus on supporting students who are struggling.
Source: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/09/whats-driving-decline-in-u-s-literacy-rates