When people think of an illiterate person, they often imagine someone uneducated and unable to keep up with their peers in reading and writing. Illiteracy, however, is not a rare issue. According to The National Literacy Institute, 21% of adults nationwide are illiterate, and the United States ranks 36th in literacy. These statistics show no signs of lowering, and the rise of generative artificial intelligence may lead to these rates rising further.

Illiteracy is defined as the inability to read or write. This can manifest through being unable to read simple signs or challenges communicating with others that interfere with a person’s everyday life. In recent years, the term “functional illiteracy” has gained popularity, describing a person who is able to read and write, yet cannot use these skills effectively in their daily life. Many functionally illiterate individuals may be able to write coherent sentences, yet are not able to identify the meaning behind the words they read or write. 

California has the lowest adult literacy rate in the nation, as 54% of adults in the United States read below a sixth grade level. As adults continue to score below average for literacy, students have begun to suffer too — 70% of low income fourth-grade students cannot read at a basic level. English teacher Sala Bandele-Jackson said that she has observed how students in underserved communities have struggled with literacy.

“In impoverished communities like Detroit or New Orleans, they really struggle with illiteracy because they are places that don’t have a lot of funding,” Bandele said. “Especially when it comes to early childhood education and access to that education. For a daycare that may be easily accessible, the qualifications of teachers at that daycare may not include teaching them how to read.” 

Since illiteracy rates are so high in adults, the child of an illiterate person may also suffer the consequences, Bandele said.

“If the parents are struggling with illiteracy, then they are not reading to their children, which can affect the child’s learning as well,” Bandele said. “It’s a domino effect, and I think the biggest thing is access. Access to funding or access to actual books all play a factor in illiteracy.” 

Effects outside of the classroom

A student struggling with reading or writing can also face challenges as they reach adulthood. Illiterate students often face emotional distress that could affect the way they perform behaviorally. 85% of juvenile offenders in the United States struggle with illiteracy, with some prisons even basing the amount of future resources they need on elementary school literacy scores.

As generative AI becomes more integrated into everyday life, concerns about illiteracy continue to grow. Many students have begun to rely on AI as a crutch, rather than a tool. 

According to the HEPI-Kortext research center, 92% of undergraduate students use AI in some form. This is a 66% increase over previous years. Illiteracy rates also increased 64.7% after the introduction of AI in 2023, as many students now use AI to decipher and break down difficult texts rather than doing it on their own, adding to the issue of functional illiteracy.

Educational consultant Monique Bell has been working in education for over 20 years, focusing on improving schools with high populations of African American students. Bell began teaching the first grade, before her current position as principal at Tom Bradley Elementary school. She has worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District for over 10 years and now provides support for school administrators in the Inglewood School District. Bell says that she fears that AI will eventually replace an actual teacher and lead to more difficulties. 

“It worries me, because I feel like it might take the place of grasping and understanding what they need to know without it,” Bell said. “Where I work with elementary students, they know about it, but they don’t really understand how to use it. The problem comes when parents may use it to support them.”

Reading is a major skill that influences the way a person executes daily tasks, and not having that skill may set them back further than their peers. Approximately 50% of Americans are unable to read to a high enough level to perform basic tasks, like reading labels. Senior Selah Johnson, the 2024 California State Poetry Out Loud champion, said that being unable to read can harm that person and others.  

“Not being able to read indicators like street signs definitely can put you in personal danger,” Johnson said. “I know that a stop sign means to stop because I am able to read those indicators. Sure, you can be told, but a lot of social contracts we learn from reading, and if you never learn them, you could be in danger physically and mentally.”

Bell emphasized that parents should seek out “correct” tools to help their child and prepare them so they don’t get to the point of illiteracy.

“As educators, we always assume sometimes that parents have the tools they need in order to support their kids at home, and what I found is that a lot of times they don’t,” Bell said. “Some kids don’t even have access to books at home. You can’t expect a child to read at home for 30 minutes if they don’t even have access to that.”

Combating Illiteracy

Even though illiteracy is increasing  at a rapid rate in the United States, it is not too late to reverse those statistics. According to a study done by the University of Pennsylvania, illiterate students can make significant improvements in five months. In 2001, the United States implemented the No Child Left Behind Act, ensuring that children would not fall behind and read on grade level. With this program, thousands of schools have benefited from the available funds. This also improved professional development for teachers to help illiterate students. However, due to federal cuts under the Trump Administration, some of these resources have been reversed. 

Bandele said that making reading something that a student will enjoy in their free time could help with the illiteracy crisis.

“It’s all about a student coming at reading at a place of confidence rather than a place of dread,” Bandele said. “That might look like reading a graphic novel rather than a regular novel, whatever gets them to take that first step.”

Bell gave advice to anyone who is currently struggling with illiteracy and may be apprehensive to getting help.

“It is never too late,” Bell said. “It is never too hard or too late to learn.”