of Texas 3rd graders who are not proficient in reading.
of Texas 3rd graders who are not proficient in math.
Texas’ youngest students are struggling to recover in reading and math post-pandemic. According to the 2024 STAAR, only 46% of 3rd graders were proficient in reading and 40% were proficient in math.1 Similarly, on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Texas 4th graders and 8th graders have seen stagnant performance in reading and consistent declines in math achievement.2 These numbers are significantly worse for Black and Hispanic students, economically disadvantaged students, and special education students.
Low early literacy achievement is linked to negative academic and social outcomes. and 40% were proficient in math.
The ability to read on grade level by 3rd grade is heavily correlated with a student’s postsecondary success and overall lifetime earning potential.3 Research suggests that students who do not meet grade-level expectations by 3rd grade are 4x less likely to graduate high school. Additionally, according to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, two-thirds of students who cannot read on grade level by the end of the fourth grade will end up incarcerated or on welfare.4 By the end of 3rd grade, students transition from learning to read to reading to learn, making the ability to read by 3rd grade one of the most important factors to a student’s educational success.
Math competency is needed for a growing economy.
Inversely, Algebra I attainment is positively correlated with postsecondary attainment. Students who take Algebra I in 8th grade and progress to take four years of high school math are 2x more likely to complete a postsecondary credential and earn higher wages,5 with the highest boost in wages to rural students. Math skills are particularly critical to meet the workforce demand for the state’s fastest growing jobs, which are primarily STEM-focused.6 As long as gaps persist in math performance, Texas students are unequipped and uncompetitive for these high-wage, high-demand careers, hurting their lifelong earning potential and ability to contribute to Texas’ booming economy.
Policy in Action: Support HB123.
Texas House Bill 123 proposes essential measures to enhance early literacy and numeracy, including increased funding for early education and support programs for parents. By advocating for HB123, we can take a significant step toward ensuring every child in Texas has the foundation they need to succeed.
Coaching, professional development, and evidence-based interventions remain key to success.
Instructional coaching, paired with early identification and evidence-based intervention, provides the most impact in ensuring every student is on grade level in reading and math by the 3rd grade. 7 Particularly, recent research suggests that the difference in instructional quality between teachers who receive instructional coaching is equivalent to the difference in quality between a novice and a teacher with five to ten years of experience.8
Comprehensive early literacy policies are well-researched and widely adopted.
Since 2013, 38 states have passed laws addressing low early literacy rates.9 Some of the earliest adopters, such as Florida and Mississippi, have seen tremendous gains not only in third grade proficiency but also in other key outcomes such as Kindergarten readiness scores, high school graduation rates, and participation in college-credit coursework. Among those states, Texas has made some promising investments in early education the last two legislative cycles, but according to experts, Texas is still missing eight components of a comprehensive early literacy policy, trailing behind its neighboring states.10
1. 2024 STAAR Results. Texas Education Agency, June 2024.
2. Press Release: Nation’s Report Card Shows Texas is Recovering from the Pandemic in Reading, Much Work Remains in Math. Texas Education Agency, October 2022.
3. EARLY WARNING! Why Reading by End of Third Grade Matters. Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2010.
4. Literacy Statistics. Begin to Read.
5. A new Texas law aims to get more students into advanced math classes in middle school. E3 Alliance, 2024.
6. Solving for X in Texas: Math Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities for the Lone Star State. Texas 2036, April 2024.
7. Foorman, B., Dombek, J., & Smith, K. (2016). Seven elements important to successful implementation of early literacy intervention. In B. Foorman (Ed.), Challenges to implementing effective reading intervention in schools. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 154, 49–65.
8. Kraft, M.A., and Blazar, D. Taking Teacher Coaching to Scale: Can personalized training become standard practice? Education Next, 2018.
9. Schwartz, Sarah. Which States Have Passed ‘Science of Reading’ Laws? What’s in Them? Education Week, July 20, 2022.
10. Texas Implementation Report. ExcelinEd, 2024.