City Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr. reads to a classroom at Alexander Adaire Elementary in Philadelphia on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (Kriston Jae Bethel for Chalkbeat)
A new statewide coalition aims to respond to alarming data showing that just 1 in 3 Pennsylvania students — and even fewer in Philadelphia — can read proficiently by fourth grade.
Eighty people from 20 organizations under the umbrella of the Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition met via Zoom on January 8 to push for state policies that will improve student outcomes in reading. These include $100 million to make sure that all districts have access to training in “evidence-based strategies,” including the science of reading, which represents the consensus on the best methods for literacy instruction like a focus on phonics and vocabulary-building.
The coalition is also calling for dedicated resources to support the early screening of struggling students.
The trend in reading outcomes also concerns advocates. Laura Boyce of Teach Plus, a group that’s in the new coalition, cited 2022 data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress showing a post-pandemic decline in Pennsylvania students’ reading proficiency, a downturn that occurred nationwide. New NAEP results are expected later this month.
“Given what we know about how early reading proficiency affects future life outcomes, that is something we are focusing on as we talk about the importance of improving literacy outcomes and how that connects to overall economic well-being,” said Boyce, the executive director of Teach Plus’ Pennsylvania chapter.
Fourth grade is the target because research shows that is the crucial point when students should be moving from “learning to read” to “reading to learn,” she said.
The Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition plans to screen the film “The Right to Read” in Harrisburg on Jan. 28, followed by a discussion of the issue with lawmakers. It also plans to hold a day-long summit on March 26 to highlight the issue.
In Philadelphia, advocates, school officials, caregivers, and neighbors are taking a communal approach to improving reading scores. The school district has started a new English Language Arts curriculum focused on the science of reading. Advocates are hosting small neighborhood events featuring the “Alphabet Song” for younger children that’s linked with the Freedom Schools model. And Philly’s Reading Captains are taking the effort door-to-door to deliver books and resources to families on their block.
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