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Low Literacy Levels Among U.S. Adults Could Be Costing The Economy $2.2 Trillion A Year

This is what AI says,

Overview



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To combat illiteracy in the United States, a multifaceted approach is needed, including early intervention programs, high-quality literacy instruction, expanded access to books, and community-based support. Focusing on equity, investing in schools, and modernizing the teaching profession are also crucial.
Early Intervention and High-Quality Instruction:
Early childhood literacy programs:
Implementing programs that prepare children for reading from a young age is vital.
Systematic, explicit, and scientifically-based reading instruction:
Teachers should be trained in effective methods that focus on phonics, phonemic awareness, and vocabulary building.
Personalized instruction:
Tailoring instruction to individual student needs, including those who are struggling with reading, is crucial.
Expanding Access to Books and Literacy Resources:
Community libraries and free book programs:
Ensuring access to books, especially for low-income communities, is essential.
Free or low-cost access to online resources:
Utilizing technology to provide access to online reading materials and educational tools can expand literacy opportunities.
Creating literacy-rich environments:
Making sure students have access to books and other literacy resources at home, school, and in the community can boost their reading skills.
Community Support and Advocacy:
Parent involvement:
Encouraging parents to read with their children and participate in literacy activities is crucial.
Community outreach programs:
Partnering with local organizations and schools to provide literacy support and resources can reach a wider audience.
Advocating for literacy policies and funding:
Working to increase funding for literacy programs and advocate for policies that support literacy is important.
Volunteer tutoring and mentoring:
Individuals can volunteer their time to support students in need of literacy assistance.
Addressing Equity and Systemic Issues:
Applying an equity lens to education policies:
Addressing disparities in access to quality education and resources is crucial.
Increasing investment in public schools:
Investing in schools, especially those serving low-income communities, is necessary to improve literacy outcomes.
Modernizing the teaching profession:
Supporting teachers with professional development and resources to implement effective literacy instruction is essential.
Collaboration and Partnerships:
Collaboration between researchers, nonprofits, governments, and public schools:
Working together can help identify best practices and create more effective literacy programs.
Supporting literacy initiatives:
Donating to literacy charities and supporting literacy organizations can help fund programs that combat illiteracy.
By implementing these strategies and working together, the United States can make significant strides in addressing illiteracy and ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to develop strong literacy skills.
What do YOU say? That was the question.
 
Well giving even more money to the teacher's unions obviously isn't the answer. The average is now 20k per kid per year. A class of 20 kids costs the idiot government 400k per year of taxpayer dollars for 12 years to produce an adult population where over half cannot read above the 6th grade level.

Ain't socialism grand?
Where I live? My tax dollars support 2 public school districts. Both are in desperate need of more funding. Rumor is, they’re coming out with referendums and special elections this year or next.

One is a preK-6 and the other is 7-12 as a “regional” district where my town combines with a neighboring township for middle/high school.

My local public school district has an average grade class size in preK-6 of about 175 students per grade level. Somewhere between 1300-1500 total students last time I checked.

For each grade, there appears to be between 7-10 classes with teachers - some being 2 teacher classrooms with a gen ed and a special ed teacher - then strictly special ed pull out resource teachers, para professionals, “specials” teachers (music, computers, gym, art, library, SEL), general aides, cafeteria and building staff, administrative staff, SROs, guidance counselors, then your therapists - speech, PT, OT, etc - at least 1 nurse per building, etc. your admin AND your district level admin and staff that work in the administrative offices that are in a separate building from all 3 of the local district elementary schools.

And that doesn’t even touch actual physical building costs.

Once you get to the next district - the regional one - there is more of EVERYTHING. More teachers, more staff, bigger buildings, more land, etc.

It is cute that you think that $XK per student only goes to teachers though.

Demonstrates a sincere lack of knowledge and understanding of what a school budget looks like.
 
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Republicans love the poorly educated.

It is how they get elected.

Hence their war on educatuon!
Why is this political to you?
Do you know what the literacy rate is in Chicago?
 
Why is this political to you?
Do you know what the literacy rate is in Chicago?
Do you appreciate the inherent flaws that are built into standardized testing?

I abhor standardized testing.

Here kid - sit at this desk for X hours for X days and take this test.

Your teacher is going to sit at the front of the room and/or walk the aisles and not be able to assist you in any fashion. You’re going to be given a start and stop time - and you’re going to sit in a silent room and stare at this paper/computer screen for X amount of time.

Is it measuring actual skills or is it measuring the student’s ability to take a standardized test?


I’m not saying that we don’t have a problem with literacy rates - we do - but I think we need to move away from standardized testing the way it is currently done. That stuff is a nightmare.

It was a nightmare when I had to do them, it continues to be a nightmare to this day.

And, do you realize that parents can simply opt their kids out in many places? For any or no reason they choose? Do you realize that private schools don’t have to do the standardized testing?

It isn’t a reliable metric. It’s 2025. Why we continue to do shit that we have been doing for decades - like standardized testing - is beyond me. Especially when we know that the results aren’t necessarily reflective of what we are using them for.
 
Do you appreciate the inherent flaws that are built into standardized testing?

I abhor standardized testing.

Here kid - sit at this desk for X hours for X days and take this test.

Your teacher is going to sit at the front of the room and/or walk the aisles and not be able to assist you in any fashion. You’re going to be given a start and stop time - and you’re going to sit in a silent room and stare at this paper/computer screen for X amount of time.

Is it measuring actual skills or is it measuring the student’s ability to take a standardized test?


I’m not saying that we don’t have a problem with literacy rates - we do - but I think we need to move away from standardized testing the way it is currently done. That stuff is a nightmare.

It was a nightmare when I had to do them, it continues to be a nightmare to this day.

And, do you realize that parents can simply opt their kids out in many places? For any or no reason they choose? Do you realize that private schools don’t have to do the standardized testing?

It isn’t a reliable metric. It’s 2025. Why we continue to do shit that we have been doing for decades - like standardized testing - is beyond me. Especially when we know that the results aren’t necessarily reflective of what we are using them for.

All of this. Standardized testing sucks. I don't know any teacher who thinks it's productive or a great picture of how their individual students perform.
 
Why is this political to you?
Do you know what the literacy rate is in Chicago?

While I don't disagree that lots of kids read below grade level (most do in my school too), standardized testing isn't a great way to assess children's reading abilities. Especially if it's on the computer. A LOT of kids, if not watched closely, will just click through to get done. Much like filling in the C answer down the page back in my day.
 
All of this. Standardized testing sucks. I don't know any teacher who thinks it's productive or a great picture of how their individual students perform.

What would you suggest be used instead? IMHO, the primary problem is ‘social promotion’ - advancing students to the next grade level (annually) without requiring them to master the material of their current grade level.
 
What would you suggest be used instead? IMHO, the primary problem is ‘social promotion’ - advancing students to the next grade level (annually) without requiring them to master the material of their current grade level.
In the same breath - having a student merely repeat the same class isn’t necessarily the answer either.

If they are falling behind or not learning the material - the student should be formally assessed to figure out WHY.

Repeating a grade doesn’t mean a student is going to learn something they didn’t learn the first time around. All it is going to do is have them occupying a desk and doing the same thing - that they didn’t succeed at the first time around - again.

We need to be assessing students - all students - for what their actual abilities are and working from that point.

For every kid.

It’s time consuming and expensive - but it’s truly the only way we can improve educational outcomes in my opinion.

These are kids. Not cogs on a conveyor belt in a factory.

If I had my way, every kid would be working off an IEP type of plan and would be grouped with their same skilled peers working towards similar goals. And would advance as they achieve those goals.

Enough of this age grouping and assuming all kids learn at the same rate and have the same skills and need the same instruction- it isn’t working.


I’d dismantle the entire system and change it. I’d do year round schooling with 4 week breaks every X months - and I’d move cohorts of students from one level to another based on their performance in each basic subject level.

You’re going to have kids that are better at reading and you’re going to have kids that are better at math. You’re going to have kids that move slower, and you’re going to have kids that move faster.

It’s time we stop thinking that they way we have always done things is the best way to do them.
 
Why is this political to you?
Do you know what the literacy rate is in Chicago?
Of course it's political. The fix requires programs that need money.
 
In the same breath - having a student merely repeat the same class isn’t necessarily the answer either.

If they are falling behind or not learning the material - the student should be formally assessed to figure out WHY.

Repeating a grade doesn’t mean a student is going to learn something they didn’t learn the first time around. All it is going to do is have them occupying a desk and doing the same thing - that they didn’t succeed at the first time around - again.

We need to be assessing students - all students - for what their actual abilities are and working from that point.

For every kid.

It’s time consuming and expensive - but it’s truly the only way we can improve educational outcomes in my opinion.

These are kids. Not cogs on a conveyor belt in a factory.

If I had my way, every kid would be working off an IEP type of plan and would be grouped with their same skilled peers working towards similar goals. And would advance as they achieve those goals.

Enough of this age grouping and assuming all kids learn at the same rate and have the same skills and need the same instruction- it isn’t working.

I agree with that (bolded above). I’m not suggesting that some students don’t need additional help, but they don’t get that by using ‘social promotion’, since they aren’t being “grouped with their same skilled peers” and are likely to fall further and further behind them.
 
Oh - and I’d trash all the standardized tests out there.

Every single one.

They’re a waste. Teachers spend time preparing students to take standardized testing. Then they lose days of teaching while students TAKE standardized testing. So data from flawed testing can be used to reflect whether or not a student is “achieving” based off metrics that are complete bullshit in the first place - and testing material that doesn’t even necessarily align with what a student is learning in class.


Here Johnny - answer this word math problem that comes in 3 parts and has 4 multiple choice answers. If you read one part of the sentences wrong - you get the entire thing wrong. 🙄. Even if you did the actual math part correctly. Even if the math you’re doing is something you covered three months ago and isn’t fresh in your mind - you’re expected to just instantly recall it.

Ignore that you might have anxiety, that you might have slept like crap last night, that your left sock is bothering you, that all you can focus on is the ticking of a clock, etc…ignore that you’re stronger in math than reading.

Trash them.
 
The US also has a ton of tired parents that are doing the absolute best they can.

I have friends who barely have 2-3 waking hours a day with their kids. They have to be at their offices by 8-8:30 in the morning - so they’re rushing out the door at 7am to drop half asleep kids off at before care.

They are then picking those same kids up at 5:30-6pm from after care.

They still then need to get home, feed them, make sure homework is done - go to any extra curriculars if kids are involved - and get kids bathed and in bed, etc by 8:30-9:30pm.

Rinse and repeat 5 days a week.

They’re struggling to spend any quality time with kids and if you watch their day to day lives? A lot of the time spent with their kids consists of repeating “get dressed, get your shoes on, get your teeth brushed, etc” type of things over and over. It’s brutal.


Sounds like these parents are enjoying their American FrEeDuMbZ$™.

Isn't that awesome?
 
Of course it's political. The fix requires programs that need money.
But is one political leaning at greater fault for the shortcomings than the other?
 
I agree with that (bolded above). I’m not suggesting that some students don’t need additional help, but they don’t get that by using ‘social promotion’, since they aren’t being “grouped with their same skilled peers” and are likely to fall further and further behind them.
The system is broken.

But we have no appetite to actually FIX it.

Instead what we have are rich people looking to take advantage of the cracks and funnel money to private schools.

Some are awesome - but most are no different. And the awesome ones arwnt accessible to the average American family 🤷‍♀️

There are SO many factors at play.

Hungry kids don’t learn well. Kids who have unstable home environments don’t learn well. Kids that have undiagnosed or unsupported learning disabilities or neurodivergence don’t learn the same as neurotypical peers without those differences. Gifted students get bored. Boys don’t tend to do well being asked to sit at desks for hours on end - girls tend to do better at this.

Class sizes can get ridiculously large. Teachers are under paid for what we put on their plates daily. Some parents are quick to blame and criticize a teacher - but don’t respond to emails and phone calls and don’t pay attention to what their kid is doing until they realize the kid is failing.

Parents are struggling. Parents might be ELL, illiterate, addicted, over worked, going through a divorce…

Our schools need more support. Our kids deserve better.

And that doesn’t look like the Klanned Karenhood showing up and screaming about a book in a library, it looks like systemic change and restructuring and investment.

Look at your local school district.

How old is the building?
 
The system is broken.

But we have no appetite to actually FIX it.

Instead what we have are rich people looking to take advantage of the cracks and funnel money to private schools.

Some are awesome - but most are no different. And the awesome ones arwnt accessible to the average American family 🤷‍♀️

There are SO many factors at play.

Hungry kids don’t learn well. Kids who have unstable home environments don’t learn well. Kids that have undiagnosed or unsupported learning disabilities or neurodivergence don’t learn the same as neurotypical peers without those differences. Gifted students get bored. Boys don’t tend to do well being asked to sit at desks for hours on end - girls tend to do better at this.

Class sizes can get ridiculously large. Teachers are under paid for what we put on their plates daily. Some parents are quick to blame and criticize a teacher - but don’t respond to emails and phone calls and don’t pay attention to what their kid is doing until they realize the kid is failing.

Parents are struggling. Parents might be ELL, illiterate, addicted, over worked, going through a divorce…

Our schools need more support. Our kids deserve better.

And that doesn’t look like the Klanned Karenhood showing up and screaming about a book in a library, it looks like systemic change and restructuring and investment.

Look at your local school district.

How old is the building?

Many of the home environment problems you cited are never going to be fixed by changes in the schools.
 
But is one political leaning at greater fault for the shortcomings than the other?
You started the thread, clearly you have some thoughts about which "side" is at fault. Why don't you share them?
 
Many of the home environment problems you cited are never going to be fixed by changes in the schools.
Some districts, such as Chicago, are so controlled by the teachers' Union that implementing any change is nearly impossible. But yes, the parents have first and most important contact with children when setting a learning pattern.

 
Some districts, such as Chicago, are so controlled by the teachers' Union that implementing any change is nearly impossible. But yes, the parents have first and most important contact with children when setting a learning pattern.

Do you think teachers don’t want to solve these problems?
 
Many of the home environment problems you cited are never going to be fixed by changes in the schools.
Not true. That’s a common myth.

AI:

Yes, good schools can significantly help students who are from homes with poor learning environments. They can provide a positive and supportive learning environment that compensates for the lack of resources and support at home, ultimately leading to better academic outcomes and overall development.

Here's how:
  • Access to Resources:
    Good schools can provide access to books, technology, and other learning materials that may not be available at home.

  • Structured Learning:
    A structured curriculum and qualified teachers can ensure students receive the necessary instruction and support to succeed academically.

  • Positive Learning Environment:
    Schools can foster a positive and supportive learning environment where students feel safe, respected, and encouraged to learn.

  • Social-Emotional Support:
    Schools can provide counseling, mentoring, and other social-emotional support services that can help students cope with challenges and develop important life skills.

  • Parent-Teacher Collaboration:
    Good schools can work with parents and caregivers to create a supportive home-school connection, ensuring that students receive a consistent message about the importance of learning and schoolwork.

  • Addressing Poverty:
    Schools can implement programs that address the specific needs of students living in poverty, such as providing access to nutritious meals, clothing, and other basic necessities.

  • Building Relationships:
    Strong relationships between teachers, students, and families can foster a sense of belonging and motivation, helping students to persevere through challenges.

  • Focusing on Individual Needs:
    Schools can offer individualized attention and support, tailoring their approach to meet the specific needs of each student.

  • Extracurricular Activities:
    Schools can provide access to a wide range of extracurricular activities that can help students develop their talents and interests, promoting a sense of community and belonging.

  • Creating a Safe and Supportive School Climate:
    Schools can create a safe and supportive school climate where students feel emotionally safe, respected, and valued.
By addressing these issues, good schools can help students from homes with poor learning environments to thrive academically and develop into well-rounded individuals.
 
What would you suggest be used instead? IMHO, the primary problem is ‘social promotion’ - advancing students to the next grade level (annually) without requiring them to master the material of their current grade level.

Each individual student should be tested using a variety of styles testing listening, speaking, reading, writing for literacy. It should never just be one style of test (like staring at a computer for hours).

Listening to a story and choosing how you want to show your comprehension - drawing, writing, speaking, acting out

Speaking - to peers, to adults - assessing if their language skills are grade level appropriate. One of my favorite classes had us do some speech therapy practice where we recorded a child speaking, transcribed the discussion and then assessed where their language skills were, what they needed to work on, etc.

Reading - this needs to be separate from listening - we need to know if students can read independently on grade level. Individual assessment to determine what they are struggling with and what interventions needs to be used to get them on grade level

Writing - student should get to choose the topic.

We don't do it for "state testing" because it's much easier and quicker to just put the entire class in front of computers. The results are instant and big, bang, boom - done with state testing. Testing should be continuous throughout the school year, not just a few days at the end of the year.

I think the idea of "grade levels" should be done away with somehow and replaced with a different system. A child might be low in reading, but very high in math. He/She shouldn't be in a lower grade level for both.
 
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