America Has a Writing Problem. How Do We Solve It?

“According to the most recent data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only twenty-four percent of eighth- and twelfth-graders are ‘proficient’ in writing.”

America, we have a writing problem. Today’s employers—desperate for talented employees—consistently complain that job applicants are bad writers.

Need examples? Look at Long Island, where seventy percent of local CEOs note poor writing skills among job seekers, in addition to a lack of initiative and unrealistic expectations about pay.

Even beyond New York, the numbers do not lie, and they are not promising. According to the most recent data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only twenty-four percent of eighth- and twelfth-graders are “proficient” in writing. And it does not get much better in college: While nearly eighty percent of college students rate themselves as “proficient” in terms of oral and written communication, north of forty percent of employers say the same. Three in four employers want a stronger focus on written communication skills at the college level.

Writing simply is not prioritized enough, and a dearth of relevant research is a testament to this lack of emphasis. For instance, while Congress mandated NAEP testing for math and reading every two years, it will take decades to analyze national writing test results in a similar fashion. While the “most recent” NAEP data is startling, it comes from 2011—thirteen years ago. And the next NAEP writing test will not be done until 2030.