By Pam Good

guest columnist

Millions of children in the United States are currently suffering from a silent epidemic. The epidemic is illiteracy, and although it is widespread, it is easily solved. It’s not a new problem, but one that has plagued students for decades. We have to ask ourselves why we let this go on for so long.

More importantly, we need to ask what we need to do to change the current state of literacy. Our children are the future leaders of this country. How ready they are for this responsibility depends largely on the outcome of the upcoming presidential election and which way swing states decide to vote. It is imperative that literacy be a primary campaign issue and a top priority for the next administration.

Children everywhere in the US are not getting the education they count on. In every state, at least half of students are reading below grade level, and in most states that number is closer to 75 percent. These children are confident that they will be ready for adulthood, and yet it is common to find high school graduates still reading at a kindergarten level. Many of these students are handed their degrees and sent out into a world that expects them to be well-educated and able to compete with their peers.

This is an impossible expectation for someone who cannot read.

Many students who struggle with reading don’t even make it that far, already dropping out before they can graduate. In both cases, these young people are on a life path with limited options and many hardships. They will most likely have difficulty finding work, leading to years of economic challenges. Many will turn to crime and end up in prison.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the Department of Justice, 85 percent of juveniles and 70 percent of prison inmates cannot read proficiently. The juvenile recidivism rate drops from 70 percent to 16 percent when literacy support is provided. How different our society would look if so many of these people in prison simply received the education they should have received.

This is just one example of how the inability to read sets people up for a lifetime of defeat, the effects of which will perpetuate a cycle of poverty for generations. Literacy breaks this cycle and replaces it with equity and opportunity. If equity and opportunity are the goals of the next administration, the starting point is literacy.

Both candidates set their sights on training the next generation to function in a high-tech society. As our country moves in this direction, we will soon need people trained in the skills to create a smart force for a high-tech military and capable of filling high-tech jobs in the emerging smart workforce . A strong defense department and competitive workforce development programs are essential for America to keep pace with other technologically advancing countries, but this is only possible with a literate population.

The Department of Defense, particularly the US Army, Navy and Air Force, have not met all recruitment targets for fiscal year 2023, 47% of Americans between the ages of 17 and 24 have failed the Armed Forces Qualification Test or have a high school diploma. This situation underscores the broader problems the military faces in attracting eligible recruits from this demographic.

The current state of literacy must improve significantly if we hope to remain a strong nation. But before all this can be achieved, our children must feel motivated to achieve these goals, and this requires a deep love for their country. It remains for the next president to instill this patriotism in them.

Those who are able to freely read the historical documents and literature that shape America’s inspiring story will be the citizens who are proud to uphold our position as a leading nation. If our population cannot read, our story and rich civic values ​​will be forgotten and the spirit of patriotism will become non-existent. Divisions will grow as our civic bond is lost. A nation’s story is what holds its people together and fosters a sense of community, and perhaps that is the main reason why we must ensure that every person is fully literate so that we can all share the love for the America that gave us brought this far and must propel us into future greatness.

Fortunately, some key steps have been taken to reverse the illiteracy epidemic. To date, 39 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws implementing research-supported literacy programs in schools. However, this will not be enough until students in every classroom receive the evidence-based instruction they need to become effective readers.

A study conducted last year shows that only 6% of parents are very satisfied with their child’s literacy curriculum (Impact Research). Additionally, a staggering 80% of parents prefer phonics training over three cues (Impact Research).

These statistics show that literacy is an important topic on the minds of parents everywhere. It might even be the issue that gets swing states to vote, given that the majority of children in each of those states are reading below grade level. In Michigan, for example, 71 percent of eighth graders cannot read proficiently, making literacy a top concern for voters in this swing state. If presidential candidates want to send a message that resonates with swing states, they need to promote phonics-based programs. Many states have already taken on the task, but others have yet to make these crucial changes for children. Voters in these states are looking to the next president to support effective literacy legislation.

Individual instruction, based on phonetics, proved to be the best solution. Children who build a one-on-one relationship with their tutor benefit from personalized instruction based on their learning needs. Tutors who administer a diagnostic assessment are best able to identify exactly where a child is struggling, leading to rapid learning gains. Students who attend these sessions for an hour each day, five days a week, show incredible growth, with many advancing an entire grade level in just six weeks. Dedicated educators around the world want to use a model that produces these amazing results. Presidential candidates must demonstrate that they will make this model accessible to all students to ensure that every child reads. By prioritizing this during their campaigns and taking the necessary steps during the next administration, literacy can become a reality for everyone.

Children across the nation rely on adults to provide them with the resources they need to achieve full literacy. Every student in the United States deserves an equal chance to succeed. When these kids succeed, it’s a win for all of us.

Pam Good is the founder and CEO of Beyond Basics, a nonprofit organization that works with school districts to improve literacy in Michigan.