Literacy for all students is achievable. In the January 17, 2024 article titled “The Literacy Crisis in the U.S. is Deeply Concerning–and Totally Preventable”, author Allison Rose Socol, Ph.D., begins by emphasizing the enduring importance of literacy, drawing on Frederick Douglass's assertion that learning to read leads to freedom. It highlights a contemporary literacy crisis in the U.S., particularly affecting students of color, low-income students, multilingual learners, and those with disabilities. Despite evidence showing that nearly all children can learn to read with appropriate instruction, many struggle, with alarming statistics indicating low proficiency levels, especially among marginalized groups.
Socol identifies five key components crucial to reading proficiency and emphasizes the need for explicit and systematic instruction across these domains. She further argues that outdated teaching methods and curricula, combined with insufficient training for educators, contribute to the problem. Additionally, Socol points out the impact of unfounded beliefs about reading instruction and highlights efforts to restrict curricular diversity, which further hinder student engagement and learning.
EdProDesign’s mission supports Socol’s research that reading proficiency is key to student achievement, equity, and access. All students deserve an education that supports their development as literate participants in a democratic society “free from the consequences that come from illiteracy, ignorance, and intolerance.”