KEY FINDINGS 6

Have 25% less household income in their early-to-mid twenties.

Compared to their peers with above average reading ability, students who have below average reading ability in Grades 3 and 4:

Are almost two times as likely to not attend college.

Are almost 50% more likely to experience unemployment in their early-to-mid twenties.

Are one-third more likely to report feeling depressed in their early-to-mid twenties.

Are more than two times as likely to not apply to college.

Are 25% more likely to report substance abuse in their early-to-mid twenties.

We think the difference in above average and below average reading ability in these data loosely translates to the difference between College and Career Ready and Not Proficient on state reading tests.

Data are from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 - it includes data from 11,545 children born between 1970 and 2006 to women in the original NLSY79 sample. Data were collected through surveys conducted every 2 years from 1996 to 2016. Literacy was measured before Kindergarten and in late elementary (3rd and 4th grade) and outcomes were measured in teens and 20s. The analysis controlled for differences in individual and family background, including sex, race, birth order, family income, books in the home, etc.

Here’s what it will take:

Our community using evidence-based insights from experimental studies on teaching reading – what works, what doesn’t, for whom, and by how much.

Our community working together to improve outcomes at two key leverage points –reading skills at school entry and the end of first grade –that greatly affect the odds of success in third grade. We also must work together to stop summer reading loss.

Our community focusing on both sides of the “science of reading” – the science of learning to read and the science of teaching reading.

Our community creating system change: shared ownership of goals, awareness and urgency to improve early literacy, cross-sector partnerships, aligned resources, and shared commitment to continuous improvement.