MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama is intensifying efforts to combat low literacy rates in its rural schools, where the gap in reading proficiency is becoming a critical issue. According to the latest state assessments, nearly 30% of fourth graders in rural Alabama cannot read at a basic level. In some counties, the numbers are even more alarming. In Wilcox and Greene counties, for example, only 15% of third graders meet state reading standards.
The Alabama Literacy Act, passed in 2019, aims to reverse this trend by mandating early reading interventions, including summer programs for struggling students, specialized teacher training, and additional reading coaches for schools with the greatest need. The act specifically focuses on early grades, recognizing that students who do not read proficiently by third grade are more likely to struggle throughout their academic careers.
The problem, however, is not unique to Alabama. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the state ranks 48th in the nation for fourth-grade reading proficiency, with only 31% of students meeting or exceeding expectations in 2023. Mississippi, by contrast, has seen significant improvements since implementing its own literacy law in 2013. The state now boasts a fourth-grade reading proficiency rate of 35%, outpacing Alabama despite its similarly high poverty rates and rural challenges.
One of the biggest barriers to literacy in Alabama’s rural areas is access to quality resources. Many rural schools lack the funding and trained personnel necessary to effectively teach reading. In fact, some studies show that rural districts in Alabama receive less per-pupil funding than their urban counterparts, exacerbating the challenges. The state has sought to address this issue by increasing funding for rural education, but results have been slow to materialize.
Governor Kay Ivey has called literacy “the foundation for success in all subjects” and announced a goal to cut illiteracy in half by 2025. To achieve this, Alabama has partnered with national organizations to provide training for over 6,000 teachers in evidence-based reading practices. These strategies are designed to help teachers identify struggling readers early and provide targeted interventions that can make a lasting difference.
While these efforts are a step in the right direction, advocates say more needs to be done to close the literacy gap.
As the state looks toward its 2025 goal, officials are cautiously optimistic. Early data suggests that reading scores are improving in districts where interventions have been implemented. However, with large portions of rural Alabama still lagging behind, the road to literacy for all remains a challenging one.