Yesterday the latest results of the international assessment of reading for fourth graders was released. This time 50 countries participated in PIRLS 2016. Top performers were Russia and Singapore. High performers also included Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Finland, Poland, Northern Ireland, England, Chinese Taipei, Norway and Latvia.

Since 2001, big improvements in reading have been recorded by students in Russia: 53 points—just over a half a standard deviation, or something like two grade levels; Singapore, 48; Hong Kong SAR, 41; and Slovenia 40…[more]

Originally published on HuffPost on December 6, 2017: