New reporting and EdWeek Research Center analysis highlight a persistent literacy gap among middle and high school students: many adolescents arrive at secondary grades without fluent reading skills and schools lack schedules, trained staff, and age‑appropriate materials to provide effective interventions. Educators say constraints include limited intervention time within crowded schedules, insufficient professional development for secondary teachers, and scarcity of research‑backed curricula tailored to older learners. The webinar and survey materials outline evidence‑based approaches districts have used, including targeted small‑group instruction and screening that identifies gaps earlier. For higher‑education teacher‑preparation programs and community colleges, the findings underline the need to integrate adolescent literacy training into certification pathways and to partner with districts on upskilling in‑service teachers.