Tackling the Decline in Student Reading
October 19, 2026
You’ve seen the data: Fewer children are reading for pleasure, and their teachers report difficulty engaging them in reading in school and getting them to read at home. Research links the volume of text kids consume with their overall reading ability. Our newest report looks both at classroom strategies and other tactics educators have found to boost engagement in reading. A mix of modeling, teacher guidance, incentives, and parent involvement seems most likely to move the needle.
- Reading & Literacy Getting Middle Schoolers to Do the Reading Is Hard. Can Communal Reading Help?New classroom methods aim to help kids internalize the message that engaging in print is worth it.Reading & Literacy Creating a Culture of Reading for Pleasure Amid a Focus on BasicsSchool librarians at Missouri's Clayton school district bring a culture of reading to all students.Reading & Literacy Want Kids to Read More? An Expert Shares the Low-Cost Tips That WorkA researcher shares her tips about how to motivate kids to read more.Reading & Literacy Can Pizza Hut-Style Rewards Spark Lifelong Reading Habits?Schools need to partner with parents and community organizations to help students read more.