More than half of American adults read below a sixth-grade level
Experts call it a silent crisis that’s costing the economy $2 trillion annually
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The number of American adults who read below a sixth-grade level is at its highest point ever, creating what experts call a "silent crisis."
By Kristin Crowley and InvestigateTV Staff
Published: Dec. 1, 2025 at 1:35 PM PST
(InvestigateTV) — The number of American adults who read below a sixth-grade level is at its highest point ever, creating what experts call a “silent crisis” that affects the economy, health care and communities nationwide.
More than 50% of American adults read below the equivalent of a sixth-grade reading level, according to Andrew Roberts, president of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.
“We call it a silent crisis because it’s not talked about that much,” Roberts said.
The problem extends beyond individual struggles.
In the Kansas City, Missouri, area alone, 680,000 adults have low literacy, ranging from a very basic understanding of words and phrases to no understanding at all.
Economic impact reaches trillions
People without strong reading skills struggle to find good-paying jobs or sometimes any job at all.Taxpayers pick up the tab as many who struggle with literacy don’t make a livable wage and may rely on government aid to make ends meet.
Studies show that if every adult read at a sixth-grade level or higher, it would create more than $2 trillion a year in the U.S. gross domestic product.
The group ProLiteracy estimates as much as $238 billion in health care costs are linked to low adult literacy skills because those adults misunderstand treatment regimens and preventive care that can lead to more serious health issues.
Generational cycle of illiteracy
Roberts said poverty and literacy rates are connected, creating a multi-generational problem.“When we see adults with low literacy, children raised in those households, they have a 72% chance of growing up with low literacy themselves,” Roberts said.
Bernadette Graves, 61, went through 12th grade without learning to read.
“Couldn’t read. Still can’t spell,” Graves said.
“They were just passing us back then,” she added.
Graves worked as a custodian and cafeteria server for 20 years, but said she doesn’t know how much she was making in those jobs.
Funding falls short of need
In 2019, the Barbara Bush Foundation increased its support for adult literacy as rates worsened and funding to reverse the trend dried up.“On the adult side, from federal funding, there’s only enough funding to reach about 10% of the folks that need it,” Roberts said.
Local programs show success
Despite the challenges, Roberts said the problem is solvable.“This is a solvable problem, right? We know how to teach people to read,” Roberts said.
Literacy KC, the largest adult education facility in Kansas City, Missouri, serves 2,000 adults a year and graduated 100 of them in 2024.
The program has a waiting list of dozens, if not hundreds, of people at all times.
“We have dozens of phone calls every week from people wanting to get enrolled in our programs and we’re at capacity,” Gillian Helm, chief executive officer of Literacy KC, said.
Dr. Wendy Kline, director of adult education at Literacy KC, said the program functions with teacher-led instruction, tutor support in the classroom and student-centered approaches.
Helm said their data shows the program works. Students are more stable, work in jobs that pay above $17 an hour and they continue on tracks for postsecondary or certification programs.
Success stories offer hope
Graves is one of those success stories.When she started at Literacy KC, she was reading at a first-grade or kindergarten level. Today she reads at a fifth-grade level.
“It feels good. I keep books in my car so if I’m waiting on somebody I can read,” Graves said.
Roberts said sharing success stories like Graves’ can help turn the crisis around.
“I think the issue is really around the awareness of what a large problem this is, and kind of a sustained attention and funding to get to where we need to go,” Roberts said.
The Barbara Bush Foundation says some companies have developed strategies to help raise literacy rates in the workforce.
Tyson Foods has made literacy courses part of its workforce training programs. Many employees who have school-aged children can then help their kids with reading and schoolwork to help reduce their risk of having a low literacy rate as adults.
Impact of literacy on voting
Adults with low-level literacy skills face significant disadvantages when voting, according to a study published in the Journal of Learning Disabilities.The study examined the 2022 state elections and found 39% of adults had completed high school or less, yet 74% of ballots were written well above the high school level.
The investigation also revealed how lower literacy rates could affect voter turnout.
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Literally all this means is America is de facto majority non-white. We don't need to wait for a census (where stats are no doubt inaccurate).
HAPPY 250TH BIRTHDAY USA!
Ostatnio edytowane:
