Secondary Literacy Foundations

When we think about teaching reading, we often picture young children learning their letters and sounds. But research shows that many middle and high school students still struggle with foundational reading skills, and explicit instruction in these skills remains essential at the secondary level. The Science of Reading helps us understand why.

Persistent Reading Gaps in Secondary Students

Nationwide data reveals that millions of secondary students are reading below grade level. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 30% of eighth graders scored at or above the proficient level in reading as of 2024¹. This number highlights that struggling readers are not just an elementary issue—many adolescents have significant gaps in decoding, fluency, and comprehension.

Older Struggling Readers Often Lack Foundational Skills

Research has consistently shown that many adolescents who struggle with reading never fully developed foundational skills such as phonemic awareness, phonics, and automatic word recognition². Without these skills, reading complex texts becomes a constant challenge, impacting learning in every subject, from science to history.

One study found that struggling adolescent readers often lack automaticity in word reading, which hinders their ability to focus on comprehension because they're using too much mental energy just to decode³. These students benefit from explicit, systematic instruction in phonics and word reading, even in middle and high school.

Reading is Not Natural 

The Science of Reading reminds us that reading is not something the brain does automatically—it requires building specific neural pathways⁴. If students did not develop these pathways in early grades, they need targeted instruction to build them later. Simply giving struggling readers more time or exposure to text is not enough without addressing the root causes of their difficulties.

Impact on Content Learning and Future Opportunities

Reading is the foundation for all content learning and has a lasting impact on students' futures. If students cannot read fluently and comprehend text, they struggle in every subject, limiting their access to higher education and career opportunities. Struggling readers in high school also face higher risks of dropping out, limited life options, and even incarceration — 85% of juveniles in the justice system are functionally illiterate, and 3 out of 5 incarcerated adults cannot read⁵. By bringing the Science of Reading into secondary classrooms, educators can address these gaps and equip students with the skills they need to succeed academically and beyond — making reading instruction not just an academic priority, but a critical equity issue. 

Answering the Why

The Science of Reading—and explicit instruction in foundational skills—should not stop in elementary school. Secondary educators play a crucial role in identifying and addressing reading gaps to ensure all students have the tools they need to thrive. Adolescents who struggle with reading can still make significant gains when taught with research-based methods grounded in the Science of Reading.

References

¹ National Center for Education Statistics. (2024). The Nation's Report Card: Reading 2019 (NCES 2020-068). U.S. Department of Education. https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/

² Wexler, J., Reed, D. K., Mitchell, M., Doyle, B., & Clancy, E. (2023). Intensive reading interventions for middle school students with reading difficulties: A meta-analysis. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 56(1), 3–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/00222194221092840

³ Torgesen, J. K., Houston, D. D., Rissman, L. M., Decker, S. M., Roberts, G., Vaughn, S., & Wexler, J. (2007). Academic literacy instruction for adolescents: A guidance document from the Center on Instruction. Center on Instruction.

⁴ Dehaene, S. (2009). Reading in the Brain: The Science and Evolution of a Human Invention. Viking.

⁵ PaTTAN. (2022, August 26). MTSS for Reading in Secondary Schools: 2022 Literacy Symposium [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBRV9Umm1vs&t=1s