The Right to Read: The Power of Literacy

Compiled by BTSYA volunteer, Shanin Shapiro

The most important way to tell if a child will succeed in school is to look at his or her mother’s ability to read.¹ Illiteracy, or the inability to read and write, has far-reaching consequences for us as individuals and for our communities. Illiteracy greatly impacts our ability to obtain high-paying jobs and gain access to healthcare and community services. It may keep us from participating in important civic events like voting in elections. Illiteracy also affects our self-esteem, making us feel isolated and left out from the world around us.

It is important to remember that illiteracy is not a personal failure. It is a failure of society’s systems to address the many different causes. This paper will explore some of those causes and their possible solutions.

Illiteracy does not happen by accident. It grows where systems fail. Lack of funding and well-trained teachers in schools, poverty and lack of access to quality education for some students (particularly Black and Hispanic), learning disabilities left undiagnosed for others, language barriers for non-native speakers, gender, and a lack of books and reading culture at home are just some of the factors that play a part in illiteracy across all ages and nations. Consider these numbers:

●      According to The Nation’s Report Card for 2024, roughly 1 in 3 U.S. 4th and 8th graders are unable to read at a basic level.²

●      45% of Hispanic 4th graders and 52% of Black students have below basic reading skills. For white students, the number drops to 23%. ⁴

●      “34% of adults lacking literacy proficiency were born outside the US.”³

●      There are roughly 780 million illiterate adults across the world, two-thirds of them female.³

●      60% of families in the U.S. say they don’t even buy one book a year.⁵

Imagine the kind of society we can create when we give children the skills they need to succeed and adults a second chance! Let’s explore some of the ways we can work towards that vision.

Childhood & Schools

●      Universal access to early childhood education

●      Teacher training in literacy instruction

●      Smaller class sizes and individualized support

●      Teaching in children’s first language

●      Libraries and book access in every school

Adults

●      Normalize adult learning—remove shame and stigma

●      Workplace literacy programs

●      Literacy tied to practical life skills (health, finance, parenting)

●      Peer-based learning models

Families & Communities

●      Encouraging parents to read with children (even if they are semi-literate)

●      Community reading programs and storytelling traditions

●      Mobile libraries and book-sharing initiatives

●      Adult literacy classes offered locally and flexibly

Technology & Innovation

●      Free digital reading apps and audiobooks

●      AI-powered learning tools for personalized instruction

●      Radio, TV, and mobile phone–based literacy programs

●      Offline solutions for low-internet areas

Government & Policy

●      Treat literacy as a human right

●      Sustainable education funding

●      National literacy campaigns

●      Incentives for adult education

●      Data-driven approaches to identify at-risk learners

Imagine a world where everyone can access information equally, leading to stronger economies, healthier communities, more equal participation in democracy and greater creativity, innovation and empathy. Now imagine what we can accomplish if we all do our part to make that vision a reality! We all have a part to play. We can all make a difference. Here are some ideas everyone can do to help fight illiteracy:

●      Support and donate to literacy organizations like Be The Star You Are

●      Volunteer as a tutor or mentor

●      Donate books or fund libraries

●      Advocate for education policy

●      Simply read more—to children, friends, or community members

Above all, remember that literacy doesn’t just change individual lives—it changes the future we all share.

References

1.       “49 Adult Literacy Statistics and Facts for 2025”. National University. https://www.nu.edu/blog/49-adult-literacystatistics-and-facts/. Accessed 19 December 2025.

2.       “10 Takeaways from the 2024 NAEP Results”. National Assessment Governing Board. https://www.nagb.gov/powered-by-naep/the-2024-nations-report-card/10-takeaways-from-2024-naep-results.html. Accessed 19 December 2025.

3.       “2024 - 2025 Literacy Statistics”. The National Literacy Institute. https://www.thenationalliteracyinstitute.com/2024-2025-literacy-statistics. Accessed 19 December 2025.

4.       “Child Illiteracy in America: Statistics, Facts, and Resources”. Regis College. https://online.regiscollege.edu/blog/child-illiteracy. Accessed 19 December 2025.

5.       Ralph Moller. “5 US Literacy Statistics Exposed. July 16, 2025”. Above and Beyond/ABA Therapy. https://www.abtaba.com/blog/us-literacy-statistics. Accessed 19 December 2025.