Fact Check Team: Do America’s kids really not know how to read?

May 14, 2026 - 23:11

Viral social media videos claiming that America's school children are "illiterate" have sparked widespread concern about the state of education. But a closer look at the data tells a more complicated story.

Recent national assessments, including the National Assessment of Educational Progress, show that reading scores have indeed dropped since the pandemic. In 2022, average reading scores for 9-year-olds fell by five points compared to 2020, the largest decline in three decades. This has led to alarming headlines and clips of students struggling to read simple words.

However, experts caution against the "illiteracy" label. The term implies a complete inability to read, which is not accurate for the vast majority of students. Instead, the issue is a decline in proficiency. Many children can decode words but struggle with comprehension, especially when faced with longer texts or complex ideas.

The pandemic disrupted learning for millions, with remote schooling widening existing gaps. Students from low-income families and those with limited access to resources were hit hardest. Schools are now scrambling to catch up, using federal relief funds for tutoring, summer programs, and curriculum changes.

Some viral videos may also be misleading. They often show a small number of students in specific settings, not a representative sample of the nation's 50 million public school children. While the situation is serious and demands action, it is not a crisis of mass illiteracy. The real challenge is rebuilding reading skills disrupted by a global crisis, not a sudden loss of basic ability.