Half of Utah’s third graders struggle with reading, according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. The report shows only about half of K–3 students meet grade-level reading expectations, with significant gaps among economically disadvantaged and English-language learners. It highlights that almost all children can improve with evidence-based instruction, early literacy exposure, targeted interventions, and coordinated support from families and schools. Successful strategies from states like Mississippi offer pathways for improving reading outcomes across Utah.
