Readability
for Education

K – 12

The Nation’s Report Card — The Shocking Reality

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), measures reading levels for a sample of students nationwide. Experts consider the test highly reliable. Recent results (4th, 8th, and 12th grades) show that since 1998 reading scores remain relatively flat with  just over one-third of students reading at a level the NAEP defines as “proficient.” More here…

In summary,

• Relative reading ability is unlikely to change after the 4th grade
• 64% of 8th grade students are unable to read proficiently
• Poor readers in 8th grade remain poor readers in 12th and throughout life
• Reading scores remain relatively flat in the US

Education overall and reading, in particular, have long been the basis for both economic stability and economic mobility. Seventy-nine percent of low-income 8th graders cannot read and comprehend at grade level. Research has shown that when students are not proficient readers by fourth grade, they are far less likely to complete high school, with serious consequences for economic and civic prospects for the remainder of their lives.

Can a simple change to text format break the cycle, expand educational potential, further ignite learning in academic contexts, and create more economic opportunity?

Higher Ed and Adult Learning

College and University Learners

In higher education today, students access materials for learning in a variety of formats, from print textbooks to e-books, and PDFs. Given the importance of digital environments for delivering core college course material today, we must consider ways that students can read deeply in online environments.

Textbooks, open educational resources, and academic articles may not be designed to be aligned with readers’ learning needs. In fact, current reading platforms do not allow for easy personalization of the reading format with little to no option for the reader to control the way the text is presented. The Readability Features (e.g. user ability to control size, shape, and spacing of text) necessary to take advantage of the opportunity to elevate reading performance are missing from most reading platforms.

Adult Literacy Learners

A new study by Gallup on behalf of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy finds that low levels of adult literacy could be costing the U.S. as much $2.2 trillion a year. Read more: The Cost of Low Adult Literacy

According to the U.S. Department of Education, 54% of U.S. adults 16-74 years old, about 130 million people, read below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level. Low literacy is correlated with several important outcomes such as personal income, employment levels, health, and overall economic potential.

With the critical and growing importance of adult and continuing education in the United States, it is essential to find ways to enhance learning. Reading formats can be personalized so that adult learners can be the best reader they can be.