I don’t disagree that red states cutting education funding is intended to do just that, but I think this trend is a reflection of the 2020 lockdowns stunting a year of development and kids getting hooked on social media in general since it’s all across the world. Scary stats regardless, though.
Anecdotal hope: All of my friends with kids read to them nightly, even when both parents are working. My three year old nephew’s obsessed with books.