States are leaning into the “science of reading” to address a growing crisis in learning. But can the approach be effective if underlying issues like student hunger and absenteeism aren’t also addressed?
Researchers revealed positive results from a reading program in California that emphasized training teachers in the principles of the science of reading, which focuses on foundational skills such as phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension.
A new study found that California schools got positive results from a targeted investment in the science of reading even with the challenges of pandemic recovery.
While California’s literacy crisis certainly predates the pandemic, with less than half of California children reading at grade level back in 2019, the fallout of the pandemic, the devastating impact of school closures and remote learning, has sent test scores plummeting further.
The scores may be grim, some say, but they re far from shocking. Some experts warn that cratering test scores warn of a system that was broken long before the pandemic.