Status: Getting worse
Most Recent Data:
35.3
percent
(2019)
Target:
41.5
percent
Desired Direction:
Increase desired
Baseline:
36.6
percent of 4th grade students attending public and private schools had reading skills at or above the proficient achievement level for their grade in 2017
Increase the proportion of 4th grade students whose reading skills are at or above the proficient achievement level for their grade
Summary
Children with poor reading skills are more likely to struggle in school and to take part in risky behaviors as adolescents. There are significant disparities in reading skills among 4th-graders by race/ethnicity, school type, and eligibility for the National School Lunch Program. Early interventions to develop reading skills can improve school performance, which is linked to healthy behaviors.
Workgroup: Adolescent Health Workgroup
