Nationwide Children's Hospital Screens for Early Reading Ability

Pediatric hospital aims to identify and address literacy struggles in young children

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, has started screening children's literacy skills as early as age 3 during routine pediatric visits. The goal is to catch reading difficulties early and provide guidance to parents on how to help their kids improve. The program has conducted over 2,400 screenings since launching in 2022, focusing on high-needs populations that are uninsured or on Medicaid.

Why it matters

Nationwide's initiative comes as concerns grow over lagging childhood literacy rates across the U.S. More than 63% of kindergarteners in Columbus City Schools were behind on language and literacy skills in the 2024-2025 school year. Literacy screenings are not typically done in medical settings, but the hospital sees it as an opportunity to identify and address reading struggles early on, before they snowball in later grades.

The details

The pediatric hospital chose clinics to provide the literacy screenings based on their proximity to schools with lower performance on kindergarten readiness assessments. Coordinators use a tool that assesses kids as they read through a book during primary care visits, either in English or Spanish. The screenings take about 10 minutes, and coordinators then create personalized literacy plans to highlight areas needing more practice. Parents are also shown activities they can do at home to support their child's reading development.

  • The literacy screening program launched at Nationwide Children's Hospital in 2022.
  • As of early 2026, the hospital has conducted over 2,400 screenings.

The players

Nationwide Children's Hospital

A pediatric hospital in Columbus, Ohio, that has implemented a literacy screening program for young children during routine doctor visits.

Sara Bode

The medical director of school-based health at Nationwide Children's Hospital, who oversees the literacy screening initiative.

Carneshia Edwards

The leader of the hospital's kindergarten readiness team, who helps coordinate the literacy screenings and provide guidance to parents.

Columbus City Schools

The public school district in Columbus, Ohio, where more than 63% of kindergarteners were behind on language and literacy skills in the 2024-2025 school year.

Devin Kearns

An early literacy professor at North Carolina State University who comments on the importance of choosing the right screening tool.

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What they’re saying

“They are all doing developmental screenings, they're all talking to parents repeatedly. So this is an opportunity.”

— Sara Bode, Medical Director of School-Based Health, Nationwide Children's Hospital

“When we're doing the screenings, families are kind of concerned that their kids don't know certain things and it's not necessarily about that piece of it. It's just more so exposing them more than anything.”

— Carneshia Edwards, Leader of Kindergarten Readiness Team, Nationwide Children's Hospital

What’s next

The hospital plans to expand the literacy screening program to all of its 13 clinics in the coming years, aiming to reach more young children and provide early intervention support.

The takeaway

Nationwide Children's Hospital's proactive approach to identifying and addressing childhood literacy struggles through its pediatric clinics represents a promising model for other healthcare providers to consider. Early intervention is key to helping young children build a strong foundation for reading and academic success.