EP: 122 Who Failed America Kids? Part 1

Reading proficiency in the United States has declined sharply from 2012 to 2025, with scores falling to their lowest in decades, according to National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data. While literacy levels remained fairly steady in the early 2010s, the period leading up to 2025 experienced a steep decline, worsened by pandemic-related learning disruptions, resulting in a "sobering" drop in proficiency among both K-12 students and adults.  Comparison Highlights: 2012 vs. 2025Student proficiency (K-12): Reading scores in 2024–2025 fall to their lowest levels since 1992 for 12th graders. Meanwhile, in 2013, 4th-grade reading scores had improved compared to the previous decade, making the current decline a stark reversal of earlier trends.Lower Performers: The decline is uneven, with lower-performing students experiencing much sharper drops in proficiency than their higher-performing peers, widening the achievement gap.Adult Literacy: The percentage of U.S. adults (ages 16-65) with low literacy skills increased from 17% in 2012/2014 to 28% by 2023, indicating a significant long-term decline.Reading for Pleasure: The percentage of nine-year-olds reading for fun dropped from 53% in 2012 to 39% in 2022, and the decline continues into 2025.Grade Inflation: Despite lower demonstrated reading mastery, the percentage of students earning A's in English rose from 48% in 2012 to 56% in 2022, showing that higher grades no longer reflect higher reading skills.