LUFKIN, Texas — Kurth Memorial Library is working to address a national literacy crisis that data shows is affecting East Texas students, including those in Lufkin ISD.
According to 2024 data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 70% of Texas fourth graders read below proficiency. The foundation notes that fourth grade reading statistics mark a key shift — from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.”
An Ed Opportunity report also shows that Lufkin ISD students in third through eighth grade score below the state average in reading.
Kurth Memorial Library Program Director Maren Metzner said the library is aware of the declining rates and is working to address them.
“We are aware and we are trying to combat that with the summer reading program,” Metzner said.
This year’s program features a group challenge, encouraging kids to read in an engaging way.
“This year we are having a group challenge. So, the kids are challenging the adults, and the adults are challenging the kids and they’re trying to beat last year’s records and they’re trying to beat each other,” Metzner said.
Metzner said low literacy rates carry long-term consequences beyond the classroom.
“It affects our workforce, and without people who can’t read effectively or can’t read at all, our workforce goes down, and we are looking for highly skilled workers who do multiple and high-level thinking,” Metzner said.
She said the solution can start with a single book.
“I don’t like that it’s low, but all it takes is one book to bring them back. That one favorite book,” Metzner said.
Metzner encouraged parents to build a nightly reading routine at home and to make reading feel like a game to keep children engaged.
“One book at a time, one reading session at a time, whether it’s a parent reading to the child or a child reading to the parent, or just practicing reading by themselves, or reading to a stuffed animal, reading to a pet — that counts,” Metzner said.
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