Summary

A new survey by the National Center for Education Statistics reveals that 28% of U.S. adults perform at the lowest levels of literacy, up from 19% in 2017, with a growing gap between top-skilled and lowest-skilled individuals.

The Survey of Adult Skills, which compares literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving abilities across over two dozen countries, found the U.S. remained average as many nations experienced similar declines.

NCES Commissioner Peggy Carr noted these low scores indicate functional illiteracy, affecting basic life and work tasks, though the exact causes of the decline remain unclear.

  • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    There was a similar story posted here on Lemmy about a month ago. On that one it was referring to English literacy only without any regard to other languages.

    The article linked here doesn’t like to the actual study, so I can’t see if its the same thing here.

    • MySkinIsFallingOff@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      I mean the numbers here seem very high across the board. I’m Norwegian, and I can’t imagine the numbers for our illiteracy to Norwegian being anywhere near that high. It would make sense for the number there to be in regards to English, both for my country and the others there.

      • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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        23 hours ago

        Someone posted a chart and it looks like Norwegens are just real good at readin. Seriously though, I’m shocked too as an American. I just assume everyone around me can read except when I’m reminded of our illiteracy problem