Washington, D.C. — The National Parents Union and EdTrust celebrate the introduction of a bipartisan Senate resolution, led by Chair of Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), designating September as National Literacy Month and calling attention to America’s urgent literacy crisis.
The resolution comes on the heels of alarming new data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly referred to as our Nation’s Report Card, which revealed that only 35 percent of students in the graduating class of 2024 are reading at proficiency. The stark results confirm what parents have long known: millions of children are leaving school without the foundational reading skills needed for success in college, career, and life.
“Yesterday’s NAEP scores underscore the depth of this crisis—our kids are struggling, and too many are being left behind,” said Keri Rodrigues, President of the National Parents Union. “This resolution shines a national spotlight on the literacy emergency facing families and the need to take urgent action, and we are grateful for the leadership in Congress to ensure that improving reading outcomes becomes a federal priority.”
The resolution cites overwhelming evidence that literacy is linked to economic mobility and life success, while also highlighting the devastating personal and economic costs of illiteracy: from lower graduation rates and employment prospects to higher incarceration rates and billions lost in taxpayer and business costs annually.
The National Parents Union and EdTrust call on Congress and the administration to follow this resolution with meaningful investments in our nation’s public schools for evidence-based literacy instruction, teacher training, and expanded access to books and high-quality learning opportunities for all children.
“Today’s resolution is a critical step forward in helping shine a light on our nation’s literacy crisis, and we applaud our Senate champions, including Senator Reed and Cassidy, for their leadership in making this a national priority for Congress,” said Denise Forte, president and CEO of EdTrust.
“The Nation’s Report Card for 12th graders revealed the full extent of our nation’s literacy crisis, which is wreaking havoc on our students’ educational and long-term well-being. When we commit to literacy, we lay the foundation for democratic participation and civic engagement, open pathways to economic opportunities and growth, and create habits of lifelong learning.”
“Parents across this country are demanding solutions,” added Rodrigues “This is not just about education policy—it’s about the future of our children, our communities, and our economy. We urge policymakers at every level to treat literacy as the national emergency that it is.”
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARENTS UNION
With more than 1,800 affiliated parent organizations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, the National Parents Union is the united, independent voice of modern American families. We channel the power of parents into powerful policies that improve the lives of children, families and communities across the United States. https://nationalparentsunion.org/
ABOUT EDTRUST
EdTrust is committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the American education system. Through our research and advocacy, EdTrust improves equity in education from preschool through college, engages diverse communities dedicated to education equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where students will thrive.