Sweden is bringing back printed books
Policy report · Strength: Official sourceWhat happened
Since 2023, Sweden's government has funded a grant for printed textbooks and teachers' guides, working toward one textbook per pupil per subject, and a 2024 change to its Education Act made clear that pupils must have access to textbooks. The government says digital tools should be introduced only at an age when they help rather than hinder learning. The shift came after Swedish fourth graders' scores on the international PIRLS reading test fell from 555 in 2016 to 544 in 2021.
How strong is this?
A national policy decision, not a controlled study.
What it doesn't tell us
We can't say screens caused the score drop; many things changed at once, including the pandemic. Sweden's scores remain well above the international average.
What it means for our district
A country that went further into digital learning than most U.S. districts decided to rebalance. We can learn from that without waiting for a decade of our own data.
Source
Government Offices of Sweden (2024, updated), Government investing in more reading time and less screen time. government.se. Reading scores: IEA, PIRLS 2016 and 2021 results.
Assistive technology, AAC devices, and accommodations under IEPs and 504 plans are essential tools and are outside the scope of this advocacy.