By: De’Jah Seabrooks, Follow South Jersey Intern
It’s no shock that reading is less prominent in today’s technological era. As most information is coming from some form of a screen rather than a paper. Literacy rates throughout the United States vary across the country.
Literacy rates measure the percentage of an adult population that is literate; able to read, write and comprehend what’s being read. Most of these skills are what is taught throughout schools all over the country.
However that doesn’t mean that everyone who’s passing classes is literate. The US overall literacy rating is around 79% according to the National Literacy Institute. This means that about 21% of Americans are illiterate. This translates to roughly 43 million adults lacking basic literacy skills.
What does this look like in New Jersey however? According to World Population Review, New Jersey has a 83% literacy rate meaning that about 16% of NJ’s adult population has issues with literacy. In comparison to the rest of the states NJ ranks 5th lowest. With the highest rank being New Hampshire with the percentage of adults that aren’t literate being 11%. The lowest rank being New Mexico with an overall literacy rate of 70% and illiteracy rate of 30%.
Some of the leading reasons for low literacy rates are socio-economic challenges. Socioeconomic status plays a significant role, with individuals from low-income backgrounds often having less access to quality education. Additionally, language barriers can hinder literacy development for immigrants and non-native English speakers. These are some key factors in the areas that have low literacy levels. This can be seen as some areas like “Camden City, [that] report an alarming 93.3% of third graders falling below proficiency” according to NJ Spotlight news. This phenomenon of declining literacy rates and reading proficiency is something that is even more prominent in urban areas like Camden.
Though literacy rates are on a decline from previous years with even kindergarteners going from 55% proficient in 2019 to 47% in 2022 , according to Real Clear Education. Some places in New Jersey are implementing some strategies to help increase our literacy rate.
Rowan College of South Jersey is an example of schools promoting literacy. They currently have a program called The Academy of Youth Literacy Education Program. Currently operating in the Gloucester County Campus, the program is intended for those ages 16-24 who want to improve their literacy skills. The program is designed to help its students meet a high school level of reading and comprehension. It sets the pace of learning at each individual’s own pace to ensure that they are gaining a personalized education.
Improving literacy rates requires a multi-pronged approach. Investing in quality education, providing targeted support for struggling readers, and promoting a culture of reading are all crucial steps. By making literacy more accessible , communities can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to develop the literacy skills necessary to succeed in life.
Implementing some of these changes within our current structure have been proven to help literacy go up. According to the Center for American Progress:
Increasing the funding for early childhood education programs: Early literacy development is critical, and programs that support young children can have a lasting impact.
Investing in professional development for teachers: Equipping teachers with effective reading instruction strategies is essential for improving student literacy outcomes.
Promote a culture of reading: Creating a community that values reading can motivate individuals of all ages to engage with books and other forms of text.
By working together, we can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential through the power of literacy.
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