I found this podcast from this 
post:
I subbed today for a 7th and 8th grade teacher. I’m not exaggerating when I say at least 50% of the students were at a 2nd grade reading level. The students were to spend the class time filling out an “all about me” worksheet, what’s your name, favorite color, favorite food etc. I was asked 20 times today “what is this word?”. Movie. Excited. Trait. “How do I spell race car driver?”
I've only listened to one episode so far, but it's really well produced, seems well-researched and very well put together.
From what I gather so far, the ways that the American public school system "teaches" kids how to read is not only completely wrong, but actually saddles them bad habits which fundamentally hinder their reading comprehension.
A huge swath of American adults are functionally illiterate, and I think I'm starting to understand why.
I was admitted to college as a secondary Ed major, and switched to CS and became a STEM lord because of what I saw when I did my first observation in a classroom. I realized that America does not give a fuck about the next generation, and that I would have to do education as a second career after I was financially established, because it's incredibly difficult to be a good teacher and be there for all your students when you're financially struggling yourself.
The school administrators don't care, the textbook industry does not care, and sometimes the parents don't care. It's very difficult