::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

About 21% of American adults (roughly 43 million people) have low English literacy skills , according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. But the crisis is not limited to adults. Recent federal assessments show that youth literacy, especially among Black students, has reached its lowest point in decades , deepening concerns about long‑term educational and economic inequality. NCES data from the 2024 Nation’s Report Card shows that only 17% of Black eighth‑graders read at or above proficiency , compared with 44% of White students. Among fourth‑graders, just 18% of Black students scored proficient in reading , a decline that mirrors national trends but hits Black communities harder. Overall, 34% of U.S. fourth‑graders cannot read at a basic level , signaling a multigenerational literacy emergency. The adult literacy picture reflects similar disparities. White adults make up about 35% of Americans with low literacy , while Black adults account for roughly 23% . Hi...