The U.S. Department of State is giving $275,000 in grants to organizations in Bolivia and Guatemala to teach people English.
The United States has a vested interest in having more people around the world speak English and the $100,000 for Bolivia and $175,000 for Guatemala isn’t exorbitant. However, many students in America can’t pass remedial reading tests.
The national average for fourth graders in public schools in 2019 is having 65% of students reading at or above basic levels and 34% at or above proficient.
Not exactly a high bar, students in 28 states test above the national average.
That includes in New York, Wisconsin, and Rhode Island, where 66% of students read at or above basic levels and in Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina and Indiana, where 67% of students read at or above basic levels.
The lowest levels of basic reading skills are seen in Alaska and New Mexico (53%), Louisiana (55%), Washington D.C. (57%), Alabama (58%), West Virginia (60%), and Texas, South Carolina, and Arizona (61%).
No state tops 45% of fourth graders reading at or above proficient.
Alaska, New Mexico, Louisiana and Alabama all have below 30% of their fourth graders reading at proficient levels.
Eighth graders fared better, with the national average being 72% of eight-grade students reading at or above basic levels. The national average for proficient dropped to 32%.
While 32 states have eight-grade students reading above the national “basic” average, only one state, Massachusetts, enters the 80 range (81%). Again, no states exceed 45% of students reading at proficient levels.
It should be an embarrassment that American children are struggling in reading.
The #WasteOfTheDay is presented by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com.