Half of Utah’s third graders struggle with reading, report shows, and what steps can families and schools take?
Half of Utah’s third graders struggle with reading, according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. The report shows only about half of K–3 students meet grade-level reading expectations, with significant gaps among economically disadvantaged and English-language learners. It highlights that almost all children can improve with evidence-based instruction, early literacy exposure, targeted interventions, and coordinated support from families and schools. Successful strategies from states like Mississippi offer pathways for improving reading outcomes across Utah.
Half of Utah’s third graders struggle with reading, according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. The report shows only about half of K–3 students meet grade-level reading expectations, with significant gaps among economically disadvantaged and English-language learners. It highlights that almost all children can improve with evidence-based instruction, early literacy exposure, targeted interventions, and coordinated support from families and schools. Successful strategies from states like Mississippi offer pathways for improving reading outcomes across Utah.
