Literacy Rate by State

Alabama has one of the lowest literacy rates in the United States at 76.1% and ranks forty-fourth in the U.S. There are multiple factors that contribute to this low rate, including a lack of access to resources and educational opportunities in certain parts of the state. Additionally, many adults living in Alabama have not completed high school or college degrees, which can make it difficult for them to understand and engage with basic reading materials. The State Department of Education has made multiple efforts to improve literacy rates across the state, such as providing free adult education services and distributing books and other educational materials to underserved communities.

Alaska has a literacy rate of 87.3%, the second-highest rate in the United States. For numeracy rates, the state ranks third in the country. Even though Alaska already has a strong literacy rate, it enacted a law in June 2022 that seeks to ensure all children are literate by age nine.

Arizona’s literacy rate is among the worst in the United States at 76.7%, ranking the state forty-first in the U.S. To counteract this, the Arizona legislature adopted a new reading program directed at children in grades kindergarten through 3. Under this program, school districts are required to submit a plan to the state on its current literacy status and how it intends to improve that rate.

The literacy rate in Arkansas is 76.9% and the state ranks fortieth in the U.S. This means that nearly one-quarter of Arkansans are unable to read or write beyond a very basic level. The issues associated with low literacy rates can be far-reaching and have an impact on many aspects of life for citizens in Arkansas, such as educational attainment and job prospects. Low literacy can also lead to limited access to healthcare, as those who cannot read may not be able to understand medical instructions or comprehend signs and notices about health services. Additionally, research has shown that individuals with lower literacy levels are more likely to live in poverty and have limited voting ability due to their lack of knowledge about available resources and the political process. The state of Arkansas is taking steps to improve its literacy rate by providing education initiatives geared towards adults and children, as well as investing in libraries across the state.

California's literacy rate is significantly lower than the national average and puts it in second-to-last place among all US states. This can be attributed to several factors, such as underfunded or inadequate public education, poverty, and a lack of access to resources. Language also plays a large role - with more than 40% of Californians speaking a language other than English at home, that can lead to difficulties in comprehending material written only in English. Additionally, disparities between urban and rural areas and across California's counties are also significant.

The literacy rate in Colorado is 83.4% and the state ranks seventeenth. Still, Colorado adopted a program in 2022 that will require school districts to use evidence-based training when instructing its students to read and will adjust funding therewith.

Connecticut's literacy rate is 82.8% which is slightly above the average and the state ranks twentieth in the U.S. Starting in July 2023, local and regional boards of education will be required to implement new reading curricula for students up to fifth grade; the curriculum must be approved by the Center for Literacy Research and Reading success before it can be fully adopted.

The literacy rate in Delaware is 79.7% which is slightly below the national average and the state ranks thirtieth in the U.S. In an effort to raise its literacy rate, the governor signed a series of bills that aims to change how schools teach reading skills. This includes a bill that requires students to take part in universal reading screenings three times a year.

Florida’s literacy rate is 76.3% and ranks forty-third. State initiatives have been implemented to help improve literacy rates, including a focus on early childhood education and increased funding for programs designed to teach adults how to read and write. Additionally, Florida has launched a statewide campaign encouraging parents to get involved in their children's education while also encouraging adults to take advantage of free resources available to learn basic skills like reading and writing. With ongoing efforts and increased awareness around literacy issues, Florida is slowly making progress toward improving its literacy rate.

Georgia’s literacy rate is 76.4% and ranks forty-second in the U.S. To combat its low literacy rate, Georgia’s House of Representatives passed a resolution that creates a committee to investigate evidence-based literacy instruction and find how to best implement these programs in schools. The committee will submit a report to the House which will use those findings to craft new education laws.

Hawaii’s literacy rate is 84.1% and among the highest in the country, ranking thirteenth. To improve Hawaiian literacy skills, the state legislature is drafting bills to establish programs that ensure students can read at grade level by third grade and hire teachers in school districts with the lowest literacy rates in the state.

The literacy rate in Idaho is 83.6% and within the top third of the country, ranking fifteenth. To try and continue to raise that rate, Idaho streamlined a bill into law which recalculates funding for literacy intervention programs.

The literacy rate in Illinois is 79.6% and ranks thirty-first in the U.S. To improve its residents’ literacy skills, the Illinois House introduced a bill that creates a “right to read” and establishes rigorous criteria for schools in educating its students to read and in how educators are licensed by the state.

The literacy rate in Indiana is 81.3% and the state ranks twenty-third in the U.S and has been on the decline in recent years. The Indiana Governor has announced a $111 million endowment that will aim to reverse this trend.

Iowa’s literacy rate is 85.1% and ranks tenth in the U.S. Its success is, in part, due to its Early Literacy Implementation guidance from 2018, which provides strict requirements for public school districts in how it teaches young students to read as well as appendices and support materials for educators and parents.

The literacy rate in Kansas is 83.1% and the state ranks nineteenth in the country. To improve their literacy rates, the governor signed a bill that amends Kansas education laws. The law established the Every Child Can Read Act, which sets guidelines for school districts to improve literacy in children up to third grade.

The literacy rate in Kentucky is 78.1% and ranks in the bottom half of the nation at thirty-seventh. The state has recognized the need to improve literacy outcomes for its citizens, launching initiatives such as Read to Succeed, which promotes early-childhood literacy development in low-income households. Additionally, programs like Kentucky Reads are designed to provide adults with access to educational resources and support services. These initiatives have shown positive progress over time; however, there is still much work to be done in order to facilitate greater levels of literacy among Kentuckians.

The literacy rate in Louisiana is 72.9% and ranks among the lowest in the country at forty-seventh. There are numerous factors that have contributed to this problem, including poverty levels, lack of quality education, and cultural barriers. In addition, there is a large population of people who come from communities where reading and writing are not given enough importance. This has created an environment where there is limited access to educational resources as well as a culture where reading is not given its due importance. In 2021, Louisiana adopted a new set of programs that seeks to improve literacy in early education, which establishes a literacy assessment for students between kindergarten and third grade and literacy skills guidelines for all teacher certifications.

The literacy rate in Maine is 86.6% and the state ranks sixth, one of the highest in the U.S. The state also boasts a similar ranking for the percentage of its population with a high school diploma. Maine was early to adopt legislation that provides assistance to schoolchildren with dyslexia through examination and increased attention in the classroom.

Maryland’s literacy rate is 80% and ranks the state twenty-eighth in the U.S. To increase its residents’ literacy skills, Maryland adopted the Ready to Read Act in 2019, which includes screening for students, additional reading instruction, and additional resources for parents and students.

The literacy rate in Massachusetts is 82.7% and the state ranks twenty-first in the country. This is due to the state's investment in quality education, as well as its strong culture of reading and learning. There are a variety of initiatives in place to help improve literacy levels such as public libraries, literacy programs for adults, and early childhood education initiatives. Additionally, Massachusetts has a variety of community-based organizations dedicated to helping strengthen reading and writing skills among individuals from all backgrounds. The state's commitment to providing access to educational resources plays a key role in maintaining its high literacy rate.

Michigan has a literacy rate of 82.4% and ranks twenty-second in the United States. The state has invested heavily in their educational system over the years, leading to higher rates of literacy and better outcomes for students. The Michigan Department of Education has implemented numerous initiatives to promote literacy across all grade levels, such as expanding access to resources like books and technology as well as providing additional support for struggling readers.

Minnesota’s literacy rate is 86.9% and is among the top in the nation, ranking fourth. The state has rigorous standards and requirements by which school districts must abide. This includes statewide assessments in grades 3–8 and 10, additional funding for districts that meet their reading proficiency targets, and a reading intervention program directed at those up through third grade.

The literacy rate in Mississippi is 72% and is among the lowest in the nation, ranking the state forty-eighth. The lack of education can be seen in Mississippi's economic growth; the state has one of the highest poverty rates in the country. A major cause of Mississippi's literacy crisis is attributed to high school dropout rates. Another factor is poverty due to issues like joblessness or limited access to educational resources, which can lead to students not completing their academic goals or lower overall educational progress as a whole. In April 2022, the Mississippi Department of Education approved a new “early learning collaboratives'', a program that helps communities fund early childhood pre-kindergarten programs for four-year-olds.

Missouri’s literacy rate is 81.1% and ranks the state at twenty-seventh. In 2022, Missouri passed a new law that aims to raise literacy in children through assessments of their reading levels in kindergarten and providing additional support to identified students

Montana’s literacy rate is 86.9% and is among the best in the country, ranking fifth in the U.S. In 2021, Montana adopted a bill that established a set of requirements for evaluating and assessing the development of language and literacy in children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.

Nebraska has a literacy rate of 83.6% and is constantly among the top twenty of the country, currently ranking sixteenth. Beginning in 2019, the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act took effect, creating the NebraskaREADS program which overhauled how the education system teaches children to read in order to improve literacy skills.

Nevada’s literacy rate is 74.7% and is usually among the bottom ten in the country, currently ranking forty-sixth. To try and combat this, Nevada instituted its “K.I.D.S. Read” program. This provides intervention for students from kindergarten through third grade who struggle to read.

New Hampshire has the highest literacy rate in the U.S. at 88.5%. In 2016, the state passed a law that requires the commissioner of the department of education to appoint a specialist to provide support and resources to school districts for students with reading disabilities.

New Jersey’s literacy rate is 79.3%, ranking the state thirty-third. In September 2017, the New Jersey Department of Education adopted the New Jersey Dyslexia Handbook where the state lays out guidance for school districts on educating young students with reading disabilities.

The literacy rate in New Mexico is 70.9%, the lowest in the country, ranking the state fifty-first. The New Mexico Public Education Department released the “New Mexico Statewide Literacy Framework” in the Summer of 2020. The framework lays out a five-point plan for how districts can create an effective literacy program.

New York’s literacy rate is 75.6% and is among the lowest in the country, ranking forty-fifth. With this low literacy rate comes a host of implications for education and economic development in the state. The lower literacy rates indicate that many New Yorkers are unable to participate in activities such as reading for leisure or understanding written materials for work and study purposes, which can limit job opportunities and earning potential. In addition, those with low literacy may have difficulty understanding medical instructions or managing finances, leading to health complications and poverty respectively. Moreover, inadequate literacy skills can also result in poor performance in school, creating a cycle of illiteracy that persists from generation to generation.

North Carolina’s literacy rate is 78.7% and ranks thirty-fifth in the U.S. A new law was enacted in April 2021, with near-unanimous support, which is supposed to update how the North Carolina education system teaches children to read—mandating teaching methods based on scientific research. The state has taken steps to increase literacy rates, such as providing more resources for adult education programs and encouraging public-private partnerships to support literacy initiatives. Additionally, North Carolina has implemented a number of initiatives designed to improve early childhood education, including the Read To Achieve program which was established in 2012 to ensure that all students were proficient readers by the end of third grade.

The literacy rate in North Dakota is 86.6% and the state ranks seventh in the country. North Dakota’s “Comprehensive Literacy Plan” was updated in July 2021. The plan lays out six elements the Department of Public Instruction deems “essential” and suggests a continuum by which school districts should teach students.

Ohio’s literacy rate is 82.3% and ranks twenty-third in the United States. Research conducted by Ohio State University has found that the state's literacy rate has increased steadily over the past decade, with especially large gains seen among disadvantaged populations. Ohio has put into place numerous initiatives to increase literacy across all ages and demographics, such as providing free tutoring services for K-12 students and establishing local libraries throughout its rural communities. These efforts have gone a long way towards lowering illiteracy rates throughout Ohio, building a stronger foundation for generations to come.

The literacy rate in Oklahoma is 79.9% and ranks twenty-ninth in the U.S. In 2019, Oklahoma amended the Reading Sufficiency Act, its flagship law on literacy for students, to screen the reading skills of every kindergartener at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year and provide a specialized program for students who do not meet their targets.

Oregon has a literacy rate of 83.2% and ranks eighteenth in the country. In mid-2021, Oregon passed a bill that amended its early childhood education laws to enable the “Early Learning Council” to establish goals, objectives, and strategies to make sure children are on track to meet reading goals in school.

The literacy rate in Pennsylvania is 81.9% and ranks twenty-fourth in the United States. The Pennsylvania Department of Education updated its Dyslexia Screening and Early Literacy Intervention Pilot Program in August 2019. This program sets out training for teachers regarding the program and how students can qualify for it.

Rhode Island has a literacy rate of 79.6% and ranks thirty-second in the U.S. In 2019, the Rhode Island Right to Read Act was enacted. This law requires educators to have proficiency or awareness of the science of reading. Moreover, local education agencies must provide professional education for teachers to meet these requirements.

The literacy rate in South Carolina is 77.6% and ranks thirty-ninth in the country. The South Carolina Department of Education published a handbook for educators to guide school districts in developing a plan for early literacy development and reading. This handbook includes tips for effective reading instruction, assessment within a comprehensive literacy program, and family engagement.

South Dakota’s literacy rate is 85.1% and ranks eleventh in the country, often ranking in or near the top ten in the U.S. In 2018, the South Dakota Department of Education published education state standards, including for English. This establishes a standard for students, kindergarten through twelfth grade, in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Tennessee’s literacy rate is 78.3% and ranks thirty-sixth in the country. The state passed a law in 2021 that states a student cannot pass from the third grade to the fourth unless, after taking the Tennessee comprehensive assessment program, the student’s performance is on track or mastered in English language arts.

The literacy rate in Texas is 71.8% and ranks forty-ninth in the country. Low literacy rates can lead to a range of issues, such as poor educational achievement, decreased economic opportunities, and higher rates of health problems. To combat this issue, Tennessee has invested heavily in adult literacy programs providing funding to organizations that focus on adult literacy over the past ten years. Additionally, many local communities have developed programs and initiatives to help low-literacy adults gain the skills they need to be successful.

Utah’s literacy rate is 85.5%, ranking the state ninth in the United States. The state government enacted a law that aims to improve early literacy outcomes. These improvements include additional statewide and regional support to train educators, require school districts to adopt a curriculum and intervention program in line with the science of reading and adopt a diagnostic exam for students lacking reading competency.

Vermont has a literacy rate of 87.2% and ranks third in the United States. In 2021, the Vermont General Assembly passed a law that seeks to improve literacy in prekindergarten through twelfth-grade students. This law provides funding and technical assistance for school districts to improve literacy outcomes.

Virginia’s literacy rate is 81.2% and ranks twenty-sixth in the U.S. The Virginia Literacy Act, a 2022 law, requires students from kindergarten to third grade to learn literacy skills through an evidence-based literacy curriculum, provides resources for families and communities, and provides educators with training in evidence-based literacy instruction.

The literacy rate in Washington is 83.9% and ranks fourteenth in the country. Washington’s Learning Pathways in Literacy, a 2016 publication by the Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction, creates a framework for children, from birth through age nine to learn basic literacy skills.

West Virginia’s literacy rate is 79.1% and ranks thirty-fourth in the United States. West Virginia has made strides to improve its literacy rate through developing initiatives such as school readiness programs, early childhood education and assessments, and increasing access to technology-based learning. However, rural areas of the state still face greater challenges due to lack of resources and difficulty in accessing quality education.

Wisconsin has a literacy rate of 84.7% and ranks twelve in the U.S. In 2017, the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards were updated based on research conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. These standards include developmental expectations for language development and communication skills.

Wyoming’s literacy rate is 86.4% ranking the state eighth in the country. In 2022, a law was passed that requires each school district to implement a reading assessment for students showing signs of reading difficulties and provides intervention to assist the students in their literacy education.