Children’s Literacy: A Call to Action for Veterans and First Responders

This morning, I asked GROK about the average national K-12 reading proficiency score in America. Here’s what GROK found: The average national K-12 reading proficiency score in America varies by grade level, but overall, it falls below the desired proficiency level. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only about one-third of American students in grades 4 and 8 are proficient in reading. This indicates that a significant portion of students in the United States are not meeting the NAEP’s reading standards.

Several factors may contribute to the low reading proficiency scores in America. These include socioeconomic factors, limited access to quality education, and a lack of emphasis on early literacy. Efforts are underway to improve reading proficiency, such as adopting explicit literacy training standards for teacher certification and increasing federal investment in literacy programs.

I have a slightly different view on the problem: parents are not taking the time to be reading role models. When I was a child, I saw my dad read the newspaper every day, and my mom read Reader’s Digest occasionally, but I rarely saw either of them reading a book. Nevertheless, I developed a love for reading. However, in today’s busy, fast-paced world, taking time to read has become increasingly rare.

I want to do something about this. The Veterans Club is initiating a campaign to combat children’s illiteracy. We are starting to develop a community reading program where children and parents can join together with veterans and first responders to emphasize the importance of reading as a life skill.

We are seeking volunteers to help develop the program. If you are interested in getting involved, please email info@theveteransclub.org.

The child we teach to read today will be less of a burden on society tomorrow!