Addressing the Decline in National Reading Scores: The Imperative Role of ReadWorks

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Feb. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's report card was released on January 29, 2025, and results highlight a disheartening decline in national reading scores. Education Week, The New York Times, and The Washington Post published articles highlighting concern around the latest National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) data. The results show that reading scores continue to fall and include these key takeaways:

• Overall student performance in reading fell in both 4th and 8th grade. (only grades tested)
• These declines were driven by low performers. 
• The gap between high performers and lower performers grew and is now the widest in the test's 55-year history.
• Low-income students scored an average of 27 points less than high-income students.
• English Language Learners (ELLs) students had a slightly higher decline across the board than non-ELLs with an average of 34 points less than non-ELLs.

Despite concerted efforts by educators and policymakers, reading proficiency levels have not seen the desired improvement. Factors contributing to this issue include disparities in educational access, varying quality of instructional materials, chronic absenteeism, and the diverse learning needs of students. Researchers and journalists have proposed multiple hypotheses, but it's evident that these reading scores and the challenges that they highlight require innovative research-based solutions to support educators in improving reading comprehension.

ReadWorks: A proven strategy
At ReadWorks, our mission has always been to bridge the gap between research and practice in reading comprehension by providing free, evidence-based resources to all educators and their students. The ReadWorks platform offers a vast library of curated articles, paired with comprehension questions and vocabulary support, to support teachers in bringing even more effective reading practice into the classroom.

Multiple research studies show that the consistent use of ReadWorks materials can lead to significant improvements in students' reading abilities. ReadWorks 2024 school-based studies showed:

• In just 9 weeks, 4th grade students improved their knowledge, a key aspect of reading comprehension, by 11% using the simple 10-15 minute Article-A-Day™routine.
  
  
• In just 6 weeks, teachers reported growth in their own instructional practices and students' decoding skills and reading confidence by using the Article-A-Day™ Decodable Texts routine.
  
  See all the research studies on the ReadWorks website.

EdTech on a mission: Advancing reading comprehension for every learner
In light of the recent reading scores and the ongoing challenges they reveal, the importance of ReadWorks' mission has never been more evident. By equipping under-resourced schools and educators with high-quality, accessible tools, we empower them to meet the diverse needs of their students. ReadWorks' commitment to providing free resources ensures that all students, regardless of school resources, economic status, ethnicity, or race, have access to a teacher with effective materials and instructional support to develop their reading skills.

Teachers continue to integrate ReadWorks' resources based on their students' needs and evolving goals, and ReadWorks continues to answer the call to provide solutions based on the science of reading for daily whole-school reading routines, small group instruction, and individual student interventions. We customize ReadWorks to help educational leaders with their specific pain points.

Download a table on our website for specific suggestions on how ReadWorks has supported—and continues to support—school challenges such as helping older students with learning gaps, instructing ELL students, addressing chronic absenteeism, and providing budget-friendly webinars designed for Title I schools.

The recent data from NAEP serves as a call to action for the educational community and beyond. As we strive to address and reverse the trend of stagnant reading scores, ReadWorks remains dedicated to supporting educators, students, families, and communities by maintaining 100% free resources and teacher support with a focus on low-income communities, thanks to our generous donors. While reading scores may not improve with a single change, they can improve through multiple partnerships across state-, district- and school-wide education efforts, communication, and a focused commitment to navigating the continual challenges and implementing proven solutions.

To learn more and create a free account, visit ReadWorks.org.

Press Contact:
Melissa Calder
Director of Marketing and Engagement
[email protected]

About ReadWorks
ReadWorks is an EdTech nonprofit organization with an ambitious mission to improve teacher effectiveness and enhance student achievement in reading comprehension, particularly in under-resourced schools. We create and deliver 100% free, evidence-based, high-quality resources that align with national K-12 curricula.

SOURCE ReadWorks