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Five Facts about California's Reading Crisis

California's reading crisis isn't complicated - the numbers are there for all to see. Here are Five Facts that put the crisis in context:

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  1. Over half (58% - up from 51%!) of California students read below grade level in 3rd grade.  Most never catch up. (1)

  2. For low-income Latino 3rd graders, 74% are below grade level. For low-income African American students, 78%. These groups make up half of all California students - more than 3 million children.(1)

  3. Only 1 California school district (out of 285 ranked) has over 50% of low-income Latinx students at grade level. No districts have over 50% for low-income African American students.(2)

  4. On national tests, California ranks 40th among the states in 4th grade reading level.  For low-income students, California is tied for 38th.(3)

  5. On these tests, half of California low-income 4th graders score "Below Basic," the lowest level of achievement.  Only 20% are "Proficient" or "Advanced."  Even for higher-income students, 48% of 4th graders are below "Proficient."(3)

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Not sure how much early reading matters?  Check out the Annie E. Casey Foundation's, "Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters" (2010) for a thorough discussion of the impact of reading skills on school and life prospects.

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1 - CAASPP 2022

2 - CA Reading Report Card

3 - NAEP 2019

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