When college students were tested on different levels of literacy and mathematics in a fairly recent study, the results were startling. Over 50% of students attending a four year program and over 75% attending two year programs were not able to complete complex literacy tasks, such as summarizing the results of surveys on parental involvement in schools, as well as being unable to compare credit cards that had different interest rates and annual fees. As well, over 50% of the students who were close to graduation lacked the necessary skills to complete tasks such as understanding an editorial article in a newspaper.

The main areas of this particular study included analyzing stories in the news and other writings, comprehending documents and utilizing the math skills necessary for checkbooks and even restaurant tips. One of the researchers may have understated the feeling of most when he said that it was a “little disturbing” that at this level of higher education students could not perform basic tasks.

Most of the students attending four year programs at universities and community colleges did show some intermediate skills, which means they were able to complete moderately challenging jobs. Examples of this include identifying locations on maps, consulting reference guides in order to learn what foods contained certain vitamins and some college students were also able to calculate the cost of ordering office supplies.

There is a brighter side; the overall average literacy level of university students is actually higher than the average level of adult literacy nationwide. However, even though it sounds encouraging, experts claim it is not exactly surprising given the fact that the group of adults tested included those who had significantly less education.

When compared with like levels of education, the college students demonstrated superior skills when it came to searching for and using information gathered from documents and texts. But, is it adequate enough for a population that is highly educated and an economy that is based on knowledge? Most experts say no because in those studies students performed worst on problems involving mathematics. Almost 20% of the students who were studying for a four year degree possessed only the basic amount of quantitative skills. For instance, they were unable to estimate whether or not a car had adequate fuel to make it to a gas station, and about 30% of the students following the two year path possessed only the basic mathematical skills.

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The need for literacy programs in high school is obvious. The 2008 national testing exams indicated that 38% of graduating seniors were reading below the standard basic level. An international comparison of reading comprehension and performance showed that in the United States, students in grades 11 and 12 scored close to the bottom, trailing students in Brazil, Indonesia and other developing countries.

Many teachers were not surprised at these findings. They said it confirmed that even students who read well enough in the lower primary grades may encounter some trouble with reading later. In both middle schools and high schools, teachers usually consider themselves to be “content specialists” and believe that elementary school teachers are the ones who should be helping children to improve reading skills. One method of turning that around is to secure ongoing development by working with a literacy specialist who will coach the teachers on the best way of infusing literacy instruction while teaching.

There have been some steps taken to improve our educational system, including the NCLB, (No Child Left Behind Act) that was signed into law in 2002. This generally requires states to develop assessments to determine the level of literacy, which will be given to all students in certain grades if the school wishes to receive federal funding. In addition, there are several states that require high school students to pass an “exit exam” in order to graduate.

If you need further proof that a standardized literacy program is needed for students, then consider the fallout from poor writing and reading abilities in post secondary circles as well, as 73% of employers have rated the reading and writing abilities of recent graduates as “fair” or “poor.” Over a third of the undergraduates needed remedial writing and reading courses during the first year or two in college.

Gaining insights into the reading process helps students to read for recreation, as well as providing a way to help them with their problem solving abilities. After going over the current research that is available on the reading process, school officials decided that students were not being provided with enough tools to successfully complete their reading goals. In the high school literacy programs, the teachers are encouraged to make the reading portion of their lessons more interactive. To see if these programs have merit, all you have to do is read some of the personal testimonies that are given by both students and teachers.

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The 1993, Improving Americas Schools Act was the largest federal government contribution to the educational system (grades K through 12) and it was created to ensure that all students in the United States would be given the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills. They have offered support in the national effort to make these education goals a reality in all schools, but especially those that serve the more disadvantaged children living in poverty. By combining federal resources and high standards with accountability, professional development and an upgraded level of instruction, teachers are now able to help guide all students to a higher level of education.

The success or failure of this will make a world of difference. For the children it may mean the difference between finding doors open or closed to them as adults. For the nation it may affect economic prosperity, democracy and world leadership, or it might mean an overall decline in the US standard of living and influence around the world.

All of this has, of course, been mentioned and suggested before; however, experts are beginning to consider that perhaps it was not specific enough, that the resources have not been focused on implementing a good literacy program. So, ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) have broken it down into what they feel are the five most important educational areas.

The traditional add-on type programs are not powerful enough to succeed. Leadership and support for world literacy will help all communities to prosper; therefore, all families and schools must do everything they can to enable their children to reach higher levels of literacy standards.

According to the experts, the first educational area that needs improvement is standards, as higher standards need to be set for all children. Following this is ensuring that improved teaching methods and learning are a priority in every school. Thirdly, the government needs to offer flexibility in order to stimulate local initiatives that are partnered with responsibility for student performance. Students, parents and communities need to work together to meet the higher education goals. Many believe that more federal funds should go where it is needed the most, such as the poorer communities and schools.

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