The Striving Readers Act seeks to improve student achievement and high school graduation rates by ensuring that students in grades 4-12 who struggle to read at grade level receive the literacy interventions needed to succeed in school. Specifically, Striving Readers would provide funding to states to create statewide literacy initiatives for students in grades 4–12, share data on student progress with parents and the public, and improve teacher training and professional development in literacy so that all students receive high-quality instruction. Striving Readers would also provide funding to districts to create plans to improve literacy, develop top notch assessments, train teachers in every subject area in literacy strategies, and use regular data to improve teaching and learning.
Problem: Middle and high school students still struggle to read.
Most secondary students read below grade level. According to the latest NAEP scores, 71% of 8th graders and 65% of 12th graders read below grade level. Poor literacy skills mean that students are more likely to drop out of school and are more likely not to succeed in college. Research shows that only 70% of students graduate on time, and only 34% graduate with literacy skills needed to do well in college.
Secondary students read poorly because their teachers are not trained to teach literacy and because few resources are directed to secondary schools for literacy. Most people think students learn to read early on and continue to improve. In fact, research shows student literacy skills drop off around fourth grade and stagnate through the rest of school. Further, federal and state policymakers do not invest much in reading for secondary students so that secondary schools do not have the resources to focus on literacy or the time and expertise to train their teachers to use literacy strategies in their teaching. Because high schools don’t prepare students to read and write well, they take remedial reading and writing courses in college, costing the nation $1.4 billion every year.
Solution: Striving Readers can improve literacy, graduation rates, and college success.
Better literacy skills improve achievement in all subjects, including math and science, improve student engagement and motivation, and set students up to graduate on time and succeed in college or the workforce. Striving Readers would improve literacy skills by helping every state, district, and school develop comprehensive literacy plans that ensure every student reads and writes on grade level. Striving Readers would also train teachers to use assessments and literacy strategies to help struggling readers, train leaders to support teachers, and provide reading materials for schools that lack them.
About Striving Readers:
- To learn more about the Striving Readers Act, read the one page overview of the bill.
- SENATORS INTRODUCE STRIVING READERS ACT: New Legislation Would Target Lowest-Performing High Schools (Straight A's article)
From Striving Reader sponsors:
- Senator Jeff Sessions’ (R-AL) floor statement and press release.
- Senator Patty Murray’s (D-WA) press release.
- Sen. Sessions, First Lady Laura Bush, and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings meet to discuss expansion of the Striving Readers program.
- Congressman John Yarmuth's (D-KY) press release.
- First Lady Laura Bush's endorsement of the Striving Readers Act of 2007.
Support for Striving Readers: Since being introduced on March 22, 2007, the Striving Readers Act has garnered support from members of Congress and members of the education community.
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Dozens of education organizations, representing K-12 educators and school personnel, researchers, civil rights organizations, institutions of higher education, parents, policy organizations, and other advocates have signed Letters of Support sent to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
Striving Readers Act in the News: The Striving Readers Act has been the subject of various articles, op-eds, and blogs.
- February 22: Sessions' bill would expand reading program
- April 24: Buckhorn's story called a must-read
- May 16: Education Daily article on House introduction
- March 23: Education Daily article on Senate introduction