*shrug* She puts a lot of it down to COVID. She's been teaching for like 16 years now and there has been a distinct change in reading aptitude before/after. Dunno what is causing it but it's definitely something I hear about.

I think there’s definitely been a covid effect here as well (I’m in BC, Canada), but dang, my kids get assigned full books. My olders are 10th and 8th. If it is that, one would think they at least it will just an unfortunate blip rather than permanently lowered standards. 😬