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3rd graders reading at grade level(KCTV5)<\/p>\nKANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Think about how many times you read a day, from just a text message to street signs to your latest summer book.<\/p>\n
Reading is how we learn, part of how we communicate and how we grow our brains. But, this lifelong skill is lacking in Kansas City schools, and it\u2019s not sitting well with educators.<\/p>\n
Seven-year-old Julian Munoz is a second grader at Crossroads Academy Charter School. He loves reading and learning about polar bears, but not so long ago, it was a challenge for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seemed like he couldn\u2019t quite understand the rhyme or reason to world and letters put together,\u201d Julian\u2019s dad, Gabriel Munoz, said.<\/p>\n
Julian isn\u2019t alone in his struggle.<\/p>\n
Shannon Reasby is the literacy coach at Julian\u2019s school, where out of the 240 students, more than 60 percent need help with reading.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout 80 students in our building right now,\u201d Reasby nodded. \u201cIt\u2019s based on need and where they\u2019re falling on tests, we\u2019re making sure we get every kid what they need.\u201d<\/p>\n
The problem is that the need is great.<\/p>\n
Between the lines<\/p>\n
Missouri state data shows that 23 percent of third-grade students in Kansas City\u2019s district and charter schools can read at grade level. <\/p>\n
That\u2019s one in four. Statewide, that number is 43 percent.<\/p>\n
3rd graders reading at grade level(KCTV5)<\/p>\n
Reasby agreed it is \u201cabsolutely\u201d a crisis.<\/p>\n
Dr. Robin Henderson is chief program officer at School Smart KC.<\/a> The nonprofit organization works with local school districts and charters to help boost reading performance.<\/p>\n She said Kansas City and Missouri are not alone.<\/p>\n \u201cThat data actually references a national trend where we are seeing students struggle with reading,\u201d Henderson said.<\/p>\n According to the latest national report card,<\/a> reading scores among 4th graders in 2024 were lower than in 2022 and even lower compared to 2019.<\/p>\n So the question is \u2013 what\u2019s behind this literacy crisis?<\/p>\n \u201cI think we as educators across the nation went through a phase where we really weren\u2019t letting the science guide us in how we do instruction,\u201d Henderson admitted.<\/p>\n There are five components to this science:<\/a> Phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are struggling, they are struggling in many components of reading,\u201d Reasby said. \u201cIt breaks my heart that\u2019s our future.<\/p>\n Henderson further explained the importance of improving literacy rates. She said it is a key predictor for both high school graduation and lifelong outcomes.<\/p>\n![\"4th](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/NKUR3U2UBBG3TIBFQFK66MOI5U.png\")
4th grade reading achievement level results(KCTV5)The science of reading<\/p>\n