Despite the critical need to be literate in today's society, approximately 1 in 4 adolescents are struggling to read and understand grade level materials. This article emphasizes how being literate addresses not only individual abilities but also issues of access and equity. The use of teaching and learning strategies with specific content material can promote a more inquiry-based instruction that is appropriate for adolescents. Factors necessary for literacy development in adolescent learners include motivation, skills related to the alphabetic principle, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. Each of these factors is discussed in this article along with strategies to help support student learning. Research cited can be used for futher reading. (author/jlkrause/ebm)