Here’s something we don’t say out loud often.

If 54% of American adults read below a 6th-grade level, who’s helping their children with homework?

Kids whose parents struggle with reading are almost certain to fall behind, too. Yet we continue to treat literacy as a school problem. Better teachers, a better curriculum, and better funding will fix it all. But if a kid goes home and the adults can’t read their permission slips, report cards, or bedtime stories, teachers and schools can only do so much.

A staggering 130 million adults need help with reading. And it’s not their failure. It’s our nation’s. We should be ashamed of that.

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