Behind the Data: Why We Protect the Joy of Reading

At Evergreen Crest Academy, we believe that an exceptional education starts with an honest look at the challenges children face today.

It is no secret that getting kids to pick up a book can feel like an uphill battle. But this isn't just a hurdle at the family dinner table—it is a nationwide shift. Recent data shows a steady, decade-long slide in childhood reading and writing skills, heavily driven by digital screen distractions and the annual "summer slide," where students can lose up to 34% of their hard-earned reading progress over the break.

We don't share this data to cause worry; we share it to spark action. We curated the research below to provide our community with transparent, evidence-based insights into the modern literacy landscape.

By understanding the "why" behind these shifts, we can work together to tackle them head-on. At Evergreen, we design our environment to counter these trends—blending proven, phonics-based instruction with engaging, year-round habits that keep kids sharp. Explore the studies below to see the data driving our mission to build confident writers, avid readers, and critical thinkers.