Honors College Pulse: Can Americans Read?

The growing literacy crisis in the United States, where millions of adults struggle to read at even a basic level and student performance continues to decline, raises urgent questions about education, policy and economic impact. With reading scores falling nationwide and longstanding debates over how best to teach literacy still unresolved, the issue has taken on new importance for educators, policymakers and communities alike.

These challenges will be the focus of the upcoming Honors College Pulse Panel, “Can Americans Read?” bringing together faculty experts in education policy and literacy to examine the causes behind declining reading outcomes and the effectiveness of current reforms. The discussion will explore evidence-based approaches such as the “science of reading,” state-level efforts like those in Mississippi and Arkansas, and the broader social and policy factors influencing literacy today.

The panel will take place from 4:30–5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, in Gearhart Hall 130 and is open to the entire campus community. Moderated by honors students, the event invites attendees to engage with pressing questions about literacy, education reform and future solutions, continuing the Honors College Pulse tradition of thoughtful, student-driven dialogue on timely issues.

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