The ‘Literacy Crisis’ — More Than You Wanted to Know
To sum up this section: NLI is taking data from multiple sources, presenting it without sourcing, misdescribing the data, and contradicting the sources’ definitions. This is reckless, irresponsible behavior from an organization that claims to care about literacy.
So far, I have focused on popular presentations of literacy data. We’ve seen that most of these presentations are seriously misleading. Do we conclude from that that there is no literacy crisis? Are we doing just fine?
We need to make some distinctions before we answer those questions. So far, we’ve talked about the ‘literacy crisis,’ but we haven’t said what we mean.
I believe we can distinguish between three related problems:
- The overall literacy rates. These numbers are not as bad as NLI and the like say, but there is surely room for improvement.
- Problems in literacy education. So far, we haven’t discussed this at all.
- Building and sustaining a literate culture. This includes getting college students and other adults to read books.
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In sum, American literacy is getting worse, but it is getting worse primarily because the gap between highly skilled readers and struggling readers is growing.
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In a 2000 meta-analysis, the National Reading Panel did find evidence that using phonics was a better way to teach reading, and it seems that the real problem with whole language learning was that it hurt the kids at the bottom the most. We withheld the most effective method from the kids who needed the most help!The averages, however, mostly remained the same. The more recent NAEP declines happened well after some schools decided to reintroduce phonics, and the decline in scores in both reading and mathematics indicates that there is something else going on. (Given the timing, COVID-19 seems like a likely candidate, though the downward trend was already starting in 2019.)
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2025-2026 Madison 4k-3rd grade Early Literacy Screener report: The bar moves faster than the kids.
Joe Gothard, Becky Kundert and Sonia Spencer Remarks on Madison’s K-12 Literacy Crisis.
2026-2027 Madison K-12 $pending continues to grow, fueled by a 9.7% (!) property tax increase. Total spending will be at least $706,000,000 for 25,003 students, or $28,236 per student.
May 2026 Madison School District Presentation: 7,095 adults for 25,003 students (3.52 students per adult!)
Early Literacy Screener Map.
Map: Foundations of Reading Results: 2015–2024
Where have all the students gone?
3,887 Madison 4 year old to third grade students scored lower than 75% of the students in the national comparison group.
Madison taxpayers have long supported far above average k-12 tax & $pending. This despite our long term, disastrous reading results. May, 2026: 7,095 Staff for 25,003 students; $pending > $26k per student!
Madison Schools: More $, No Accountability
The taxpayer funded Madison School District long used Reading Recovery…
The data clearly indicate that being able to read is not a requirement for graduation at (Madison) East, especially if you are black or Hispanic.
My Question to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Teacher Mulligans and our Disastrous Reading Results
2017: West High Reading Interventionist Teacher’s Remarks to the School Board on Madison’s Disastrous Reading Results
Madison’s taxpayer supported K-12 school district, despite spending far more than most, has long tolerated disastrous reading results.
“An emphasis on adult employment”
Wisconsin Public Policy Forum Madison School District Report[PDF]
WEAC: $1.57 million for Four Wisconsin Senators
Friday Afternoon Veto: Governor Evers Rejects AB446/SB454; an effort to address our long term, disastrous reading results
Booked, but can’t read (Madison): functional literacy, National citizenship and the new face of Dred Scott in the age of mass incarceration.
When A Stands for Average: Students at the UW-Madison School of Education Receive Sky-High Grades. How Smart is That?
