New data reveals only 49% of Minnesota students are proficient in reading, a decade low for students’ reading scores, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Education
Literacy rates have fallen since 2016 and hit a record low in 2023. State and Federal Legislatures have taken action to fix this, but the University of Minnesota says they look at more than these test scores in the admission process.
Marek Oziewicz is the chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University and has studied literacy rates in the U.S. for more than 20 years.
“I think we are now in this transformational period where we see something that doesn’t work as we would like it to,” Oziewicz said. “So we need to fix something. An intervention is needed.”
Data shows that literacy rates began to drop before the pandemic when a majority of students were online. The Minnesota Department of Education released no data in 2020, but between 2019 and 2021 there was a 5% drop in literacy rates.
“There are very clear advantages of online learning,” Oziewicz said. “But there are also disadvantages so that each of these modalities in-person, hybrid or online, has its own advantages, but also it’s not a silver bullet, it will not solve everything for everyone.”
When asked if literacy rates will impact admissions, the University’s Admissions Office would not specifically comment. In an email to the Minnesota Daily, they reiterated their holistic review process, saying they look beyond test scores.
The University Admissions Office website says, “Individual circumstances are also considered as part of the overall assessment of each application.”
Legislatures at the state and federal levels have introduced legislation to support students. The data only reveals the problem and Oziewicz said the solution is not as clear.
“The system, as it works in schools, it’s composed of several layers,” Oziewicz said. “You have teacher training, you have curricula, you have standards, you have assessment, and you have schools and teacher support.”
The Minnesota State government made literacy a priority, and in May 2023, Gov. Tim Walz signed the Read Act into law, which provides comprehensive changes to education. Walz, a former geography teacher at Mankato West High School, prioritized education in his term, creating the Due North Plan.
The Due North Plan requires school districts to provide a plan to support literacy beginning in kindergarten. It requires districts to flag students who are at risk, and if needed, allows them access to dyslexia screenings. Districts must submit this data twice a year to prevent students from falling behind.
At the federal level, education has been a major concern. On Sept. 4th, the Biden-Harris Administration announced new federal grants to develop state testing, with Minnesota among 10 states to receive funding.
The U.S. Department of Education also announced grants to specifically support literacy and resources to target chronic absenteeism.
All of these developments aim to improve education and literacy rates, but Oziewicz said the best way is to support teachers. He added that teachers have direct contact with students and teacher burnout directly impacts students.
“Most teachers are very dedicated, and for them, every single child matters,” Oziewicz said. “Helping this group of children is what teachers are in it for.”