Reading proficiency remains a challenge for students across the country

The Nation’s Report Card shows that only 31% of fourth graders are at or above the proficient level.

By La'Miya Starnes

WAND-TV

September 21, 2026 11:10 am

Young girl with headphones studying at a coffee table in a cozy living room, writing in a notebook surrounded by books and stationery.

ShutterstockYoung girl with headphones studying at a coffee table in a cozy living room, writing in a notebook surrounded by books and stationery.

(WAND) – Before students can solve a word problem or follow written instructions, they must be able to read.

And for many kids across the country, that’s a challenge.

“Most kids are really not proficient readers. And that’s been true in the United States for many years. It’s gotten a little worse recently,” said Dr. Mark Seidenberg, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor.

The Nation’s Report Card shows that only 31% of fourth graders are at or above the proficient level. Professor Dr. Mark Seidenberg says screen time and socioeconomic status contribute to this decline.

“It affects the child’s ability to become a reader, but it affects their ability to benefit from school,” Seidenberg said.

Another factor is learning experience.

Thirty-one percent of fourth graders reported missing three or more days of school before taking the assessment in 2024.

“They’re just doing parts of words and basic skills and not even getting to the good reading comprehension part,” Seidenberg said. “So it’s a broader range than it used to be. And that’s one of the issues.”

Seidenberg explains that helping students become better readers doesn’t stop when the bell rings.

“Studies are suggesting that parents are reading less with their children, their young children,” Seidenberg said. “This is an important source of information about language in the world.”

Whether they’re sounding out their first sight word or reading a textbook years down the road, strong reading skills can help students beyond their education.