Is it true that children who can't read by age 9 will never learn to read?

The assertion that children who can't read by age 9 will never learn to read is false. Research indicates that while early reading proficiency is important, it is not definitive for future reading success. Many factors contribute to a child's reading ability, including instruction quality, interventions, motivation, and support systems.

Children who struggle with reading can improve their skills later, especially if they receive targeted teaching strategies, individualized interventions, and a supportive learning environment. This underlines the dynamic nature of literacy development, where various factors can lead to successful reading outcomes even if initial milestones are not met by the age of nine.

Other considerations, such as environmental factors, learning disabilities, and the type of literacy instruction a child receives, play a significant role in determining later reading success, which reinforces the notion that it is not a fixed limit based on early performance alone.