COREY BROOKS: Chicago schools are failing kids at the one skill that can change their lives

In Chicago, one of America’s prized and wealthiest cities, only 23 percent of its fourth graders scored proficient or higher in reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, which is also known as the Nation’s Report Card.Another 53% scored below basic.That means that three out of four fourth graders could not demonstrate solid command of reading skills, and more than half lacked even partial mastery.

What is even worse is that the increase in reading proficiency from fourth grade to eighth grade was only four percentage points—from 23 percent to 27 percent.Despite having these damning statistics before them, the educators and parents raised no alarms—those who improved were the exception to the rule.I have discussed youth literacy in previous Rooftop Revelations, and it remains the most pressing issue for the youth I serve.

There are real humans behind these test scores.And you will notice that I did not bring race into this issue yet.

Those numbers are for all of Chicago’s students.We are all affected by this decline in education standards.MCMAHON CALLS FOR 'RESET' OF EDUCATION AFTER US SPENT $3 TRILLION AND STILL SAW READING SCORES DECLINEA child who cannot read proficiently by the end of third grade is four times more likely to fail to graduate from high school on time than a proficient reader.

The number is even worse for children who live in poverty.What kind of quality of life can these children expect as adults? We know from common sense that adults with limited literacy face higher unemployment and lower earnings over their lifetimes.

They are literally shut out of any job that requires literacy as a skill.I see the damage from this illiteracy epidemic on the South Side of Chicago every day.I see young people who cannot fill out a simple job application.

They come by my church for help.I see it in parents who cannot read medical reports that determine what help their children receive.

I have even had to help people who gr...