Fact Check Team: Do America’s kids really not know how to read?

Viral social media videos claiming America’s school children are “illiterate” are fueling growing concern about the state of education in the U.S.

In some widely shared TikTok clips, students struggle to pronounce words like “silhouette” and “extraordinary,” while teachers post videos saying their students “can’t read.” But education experts say the reality behind the numbers is more nuanced — and more complicated.

The Fact Check Team found that while they may not be what's considered "illiterate," meaning they can't read and write sentences, the majority of U.S. children lack standard reading comprehension skills.

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