CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) β The reading specialist who questioned the literacy level of athletes who were admitted to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill says she’s resigning at the end of the semester.
Mary Willingham confirmed her decision in an email Monday to the News & Observer of Raleigh. Willingham did not return emails from The Associated Press seeking comment.
Willingham told CNN in January that her research of 183 football or basketball players from 2004-12 found 60 percent reading at fourth- to eighth-grade levels and roughly 10 percent below a third-grade level.
Three outside experts hired by UNC issued reports earlier this month saying Willingham’s research data doesn’t support her claims. One of them estimated about 7 percent of athletes from Willingham’s research read at fourth- to eighth-grade levels.
