AmiSight 5/20: America’s Reading Recession

I read a fascinating article on AP News about what researchers are calling a “reading recession” in America.

Even after schools recovered from the pandemic, reading scores across the country continue to decline. What surprised me most is that experts say this trend actually started years before COVID.

The article highlighted something bigger than test scores: reading may be competing against an entirely different childhood than previous generations experienced. Smartphones, social media, shorter attention spans, and less recreational reading are reshaping how kids consume information.

But there was also a hopeful theme.

Some school districts are making meaningful progress by going back to basics — phonics, repetition, teacher coaching, attendance, and intensive small-group support. Nothing flashy. Just disciplined execution around foundational skills.

It’s a good reminder that innovation is not always about inventing something new. Sometimes it’s about rediscovering what already works and doing it consistently.

The bigger question for society may be this: if reading is the foundation for learning, focus, and critical thinking, what happens when an entire generation reads less deeply and less often?

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