Early Literacy Improvement Trends in U.S. Schools

This research brief presents data on early literacy improvements among K–2 students in U.S. schools, highlighting a slowdown in progress. The report indicates that while there was a four to five percent increase in the number of students on track for learning to read from 2021–2022 to 2022–2023, this growth diminished to only two percent for the subsequent year. Currently, only half of K–2 students are on track for reading proficiency, with a significant portion at risk of failing to read proficiently by third grade. The report emphasizes the need for schools to implement effective reading instruction strategies to enhance literacy outcomes. Additionally, it provides a detailed analysis of performance trends by race and ethnicity, showing that while Black and Hispanic students have made gains, disparities remain compared to their white and Asian peers. The data is derived from assessments conducted using Amplify’s mCLASS and DIBELS 8th Edition, covering multiple school years.