Over half of Philadelphia adults ages 18-64 read at a fifth grade level or below, according to a nationwide assessment released in 2020. A recent Axios Philadelphia article pointed to a lack of funding for adult education programs, some of which have wait lists, as a major cause of this decades-long adult literacy crisis.

As a longtime adult literacy researcher and former staff member at Philadelphia’s Office of Adult Education, I’m glad adult literacy is receiving public attention.

But the years I spent visiting adult literacy agencies across Philadelphia revealed a more nuanced story about the adult learners in these programs – and the challenges of supporting them – than a focus on standardized test scores, grade levels and lack of funding suggests.

Problems with standardized assessments

The most comprehensive measure of adult literacy levels is the Survey of Adult Skills, which is part of a larger international assessment known as the PIAAC. The PIAAC is a standardized test that provides a snapshot of how well adults are reading in a geographic area. In the U.S., the test is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, the official research branch of the U.S. Department of Education.

PIAAC data shows that 32% of adults ages 16-74 in Philadelphia read at or below the test’s lowest level. This percentage is higher than the Pennsylvania average. If you are curious what this test looks like, try some of the questions yourself.

Yes, this stat is alarming. But tests of reading tend to measure academic, school-based kinds of reading versus practical, everyday reading. For example, an academic reading task might involve identifying the main idea in a paragraph. A practical reading task would involve applying this information to everyday life – such as understanding doses of medication or a child’s school calendar.

Research has shown that adult readers test differently than kids do. While children may do better when tested on academics, adults do better when........

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