As literacy rates lag, a pediatric hospital is screening for reading ability

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Category: Education/Family

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. screen / skrin / (v.) – to examine, test, or check someone or something carefully, often to discover if there is anything wrong
    Example:

    The hospital offers free screening for diabetes.


     


  2. readiness / ˈrɛd i nɪs / (n.) – the state of being prepared or willing to do something
    Example:

    Teachers appreciate students’ readiness to participate in class.


     


  3. proficiency / prəˈfɪʃ ən si / (n.) – the ability to do something well or skillfully
    Example:

    The course improves students’ proficiency in writing and speaking.


     


  4. dip / dɪp / (v.) – to fall or decrease slightly, especially in numbers, levels, or prices
    Example:

    Profits dipped after the company faced strong competition.


     


  5. catch up / kætʃˌʌp / (phrasal v.) – to reach the same level, quality, or standard as someone or something else
    Example:

    She studied every day to catch up with the rest of the class.


     


Article

Read the text below.

For some young children in Columbus, Ohio, reading assessments don’t start in the kindergarten classroom—they happen first in the doctor’s office. With concerns rising about lagging childhood literacy rates across the country, Nationwide Children’s Hospital has begun screening children’s literacy skills starting at age 3 during pediatrician visits. The idea is to catch reading struggles early on and guide parents on how to help their kids.


“They are all doing developmental screenings, they’re all talking to parents repeatedly,” said Sara Bode, the hospital’s medical director of school-based health. “So this is an opportunity.”


The pediatric hospital chose clinics to provide the literacy screenings largely based on their proximity to schools with lower performance scores on kindergarten readiness assessments. Across Columbus City Schools, more than 63% of kindergarteners were behind on language and literacy skills during the 2024-2025 school year, according to state kindergarten readiness assessment (KRA) data.


Concerns about childhood literacy extend far beyond Columbus. Nationally, the percentage of fourth graders considered proficient in reading sits just above 30%, according to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the nation’s report card. Reading proficiency has dipped 4 percentage points since 2019 as schools have struggled to make up for pandemic learning losses.


Literacy screenings are not typically conducted in medical settings, but several prominent pediatric care centers, including Boston Children’s Hospital, promote early literacy resources to families in recognition of reading’s importance for a child’s development.


Kids who enter kindergarten with lower reading ability often struggle to catch up in later grades. Almost three-fourths of kindergarteners who test in the bottom 20% of students for readiness exams remain in the bottom 20% of their class by fifth grade, according to The Children’s Reading Foundation, a nonprofit organization.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


 


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • In your opinion, what might a lagging literacy rate in children say about a country’s educational system? Do you think the government should be largely blamed for this outcome? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Aside from government funding, how can literacy programs in schools be strengthened (ex. invest in teacher training, provide interesting reading materials)? Discuss.

 

Discussion B

  • Do you think literacy screening in hospitals should become a standard procedure in checking for children’s development? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Do you think hospitals and schools should collaborate to improve children’s literacy rate? Why or why not? How do you imagine this would happen? Discuss.