Approximately 8 million students in grades 4-12 are reading below grade level, and limited literacy skills cause 3,000 students to drop out of high school every school day. While the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001 triggered highly publicized reports on low levels of reading achievement in America’s elementary schools, middle and high school students face different but no less important literacy challenges. Learn more about this issue...
As a professional organization, NCTE is committed to the development of excellent literacy education through all grade levels. Here you can learn about the unique challenges of adolescent literacy, how current legislative proposals seek to bolster effective programs, and what research tells us about effective literacy instruction.
Click here to download more information on the NCTE Executive Committee's discussion of this issue.
Adolescen t Literacy: A Policy Research Brief
This NCTE Policy Research Brief offers updates on research with implications for policy decisions that affect teaching and learning in the area of adolescent literacy.
"NCTE Principles of Adolescent Literacy Reform"
This policy research brief delineates the problems of adolescent literacy and outlines reforms NCTE has identified as necessary to address them. Read more about NCTE's policy research on this issue...
This video of e.e. cummings features teaching tips to engage readers.
NCTE Consultants: Bring a consultant to your school to discuss adolescent literacy
Adolescent Literacy Resource Kit: Check out the resources available in this topical kit from NCTE.
Teaching Reading in High School English Classes: Browse the sample chapters of this NCTE book for some great ideas on how to teach reading to adolescents.
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