How the Science of Reading is Stacking Up.

Every educator that teaches Language Arts or English in the United States is familiar with the push to implement the Science or Reading in the current classroom. But what is the Science of Reading and how does it stack up?

What is the Science of Reading?

The Science of Reading is not a new idea. As a concept and approach to reading instruction, it has its roots in the 18^th century. In its early roots it focused on studies of linguistics and proper pronunciation.  In the 1990s the idea expanded to include the whole-langue or phonics methods. At this time the term “scientific research-based reading” (SRBR) emerged and took on a life of its own.

By 2000, with the implementation of No Child Left Behind, comprehensive research and studies identified five literary practices (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension) as necessary ingredients for student reading success.

The emphasis is on literature research that is replicable and contains explicit on grade level instruction. However, it is not one pedagogical approach but is composed of explicit instruction on the five literary practices.

What is Whole Language Approach?

Dynamically opposed to the Science of Reading is the Whole Language Approach. This is an approach the immerses students in writing and reading, assuming that by exposure students will gain the skills they need to learn to write and read.

This approach often includes connecting students by having them “see themselves”  in what they were reading. This focus on quality relatable materials was enforced by research that showed the amount of time students read directly related to test scores and reading ability.

Another key feature is the use of basal reader, which are essentially leveled readers. It was also supported by large, enriched student libraries and thematic units.  It deemphasizes skills instruction, strategy instruction, emphasis on text structure and reading in the content areas.

Where is the Science of Reading now?

Around 2023 a resurgence of the Science of Reading has been sweeping the United States, with many states implementing programs related to the five key literary practices. Due impart to the expansion of reading gap brought on in part from pandemic related learning loss.

As of November 2024, 40 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws and policies on evidence-based reading practices.

Quickly curriculum companies and teachers refocused their efforts to align with the Science of Reading implementing new curriculum and skills-based learning.  

After the first full year of the Science of Reading Implementation, where are we now?

The results of the national reading assessments after the push for the Science of Reading are in, but what do they mean?

In 2024, national NAEP reading scores in both 4^th and 8^th graders declined with average scores dropping two points compared to 2022 and five points compared to 2019 (NAEP). In addition, trends showed that the gap between higher performing students and low performing students intensified. At the same time, there was no significant change in Math scores.  The change in reading and not Math, shows that the difference is not necessarily Covid loss related, or ability relate, because students keep gains in Math.

With only one years’ worth of data, it is hard to say if the recent trend is due to the increased instruction based upon the Science of Reading, or perhaps related to the need for retraining and implementation of the Science of Reading in the classroom.

Sources

Academia, The Reading Wars in August 2022 

Cooper, S. (2024, April). Which States Have Science of Reading Laws in 2024? Just Right Reader. https://justrightreader.com/blogs/news/which-states-have-science-of-reading-laws-in-2024

Hollingsworth, H. (2023, April 20). Why more U.S. schools are embracing a new “science of reading.” PBS NewsHour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/why-more-u-s-schools-are-embracing-a-new-science-of-reading

NAEP Reading: Reading Results. (2022). Nationsreportcard.gov. https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/reports/reading/2024/g4_8/

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Schwartz, S. (2025, January 29). Reading Scores Fall to New Low on NAEP, Fueled by Declines for Struggling Students. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/reading-scores-fall-to-new-low-on-naep-fueled-by-declines-for-struggling-students/2025/01

SCIENCE OF READING. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2025, from https://cdn.userway.org/auto-remediations/pdf/3714460/original/Science-of-Reading-eBook-2022.pdf

The Science of Reading vs. Balanced Literacy: The History of the Reading Wars | Lexia Learning. (2022, June 30). Www.lexialearning.com. https://www.lexialearning.com/blog/the-science-of-reading-vs-balanced-literacy-the-history-of-the-reading-wars

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change America’s mind about how children learn to read. Urbana, IL: National Council of

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Teaching Tuesday: The science of reading – past, present and future. GCU. (n.d.). https://www.gcu.edu/blog/teaching-school-administration/teaching-tuesday-science-reading-past-present-and-future