The report commissioned by Boston-based Strategies for Children urges state educators and policy makers to refocus literacy efforts on improving language development skills, starting with toddlers. 

In Lynn, 37 percent of third-graders are at the proficient or above level while 63 percent are below proficient; Lynnfield has 81 percent at proficient or higher; Nahant 87 percent; Marblehead 73 percent; Peabody 51 percent; Revere 57 percent; Saugus 60 percent and Swampscott 72 percent.

Nonie Lesaux, the study’s lead author and researcher at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, said that third-grade reading proficiency is an indicator of later academic success.  She says a large majority of children who struggle with reading in the third grade are less likely to graduate from high school.    

When approached at a school meeting Thursday night, Lynn school and teachers union officials offered no comment.