McNair: School’s out, but kids must continue to read

As the summer approaches and the school year ends, schools across the country are concerned about the upcoming year and the federal cuts that may come with the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education.

The concern is even more pressing considering a report released in January by the National Assessment of Educational Progress that shows that the reading proficiency for fourth and eighth graders in the United States continues to decline. Last year, their proficiency declined by 2 points compared with 2022. In fact, 19 states had a fourth grade reading score below the national average of 214. For eighth graders, 11 states had scores much lower than the national average of 257.

What we do know about educational data is there is often a decline in reading scores in the summer, which is referred to as “summer slope” or “summer slide.” Data from the Northwest Evaluation Association shows that third to fifth graders lose 20% of their school-year gains in reading.

This kind of data hits educators, including administrators, quite hard. What more can we do?

As we seek answers, what gets lost in the discussion is the myriad of variables that influence reading results and why they can be so volatile, particularly for young readers, whose foundational skills have yet to develop.

When youths don’t read enough, their reading score results will often stagnate or decline. Average instructional time for a student in the United States is 5.7 hours per day. Reading represents only a portion of that time. If the only time young people read books is when they are at school, reading scores across our nation will not improve.

Now more than ever, it’s important that our youths continue to read throughout the summer. For those students not attending summer school, it’s essential that parents and caregivers designate times for their children to read, even on vacation. That means putting some limits on use of devices. If the family is traveling, requiring reading can prove to be beneficial.

Neuropsychology and Education Services for Children and Adolescents, a practice in New England, recommends that children read at least 20 minutes per day after being in school all day. It will expose them to 1.8 million words in one school year. During summer break, continuing that practice can have a profound impact on reading efficiency for students, preventing some of the reading loss that happens during summer break.

Having youths not only visit the library but also obtain a library card is recommended. The American Library Association maintains that library cards fuel academic achievement. Through the summer, many libraries host events and activities to engage youths and can encourage them to become lifelong readers.

So much work has to be done. We can start by making certain our youths continue to pick up a book and read over the summer.

Jerald McNair is a school administrator in South Holland School District 151./Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service