This document examines the literacy skills and preparation of students from elementary school through high school and into postsecondary education/the workforce. It suggests that the foundational literacy skills taught in elementary grades may not adequately prepare students for the higher-level critical thinking, comprehension, and literacy demands of middle/high school, college, and careers. Secondary teachers report students struggle with skills like understanding abstract concepts and identifying key words. The document also notes declining text complexity levels in high school that fail to prepare students for college-level literacy demands. This potential disconnect in literacy preparation across grade levels may contribute to high remediation rates in postsecondary education and the workforce.