Science of Reading News Digest: April 2023

In today's fast-paced world, literacy skills have become more important than ever. The ability to read, write, and communicate effectively is essential not only for personal growth and development but also for success in the workplace. As such, literacy research has been a hot topic this April, with a number of exciting headlines emerging from the field. In this edition of Literacy Leaders, we'll take a closer look at some of the most noteworthy literacy news from the past month and explore what it means for educators, employers, and learners alike. Whether you're a teacher, a business leader, or simply someone who values the power of words, you won't want to miss these important updates.

Indiana lawmakers are coming together to embrace evidence-based literacy instruction throughout the Hoosier state. Legislation, which passed the Indiana House of Representatives 91-0, would define the science of reading in state law, require school districts to adopt a curriculum aligned with the definition, provide grants to support implementation, and adjust licensing and teacher preparation requirements to reflect the change. The comprehensive nature of the legislation is a coordinated effort to improve Indiana's literacy rates.

Legislators in Utah embraced reading research in 2022, passing laws that required schools to adopt curriculum aligned with the science of reading, training for K-3 teachers, and funding for the hiring of literacy coaches. Now that educators are well into the training process, the State Board of Education is grappling with how to ensure the science of reading is implemented in classrooms across Utah. Efforts are being made to extend training to principals, while a science of reading expert panel will seek to understand how teachers are using their training in practice.

Lyft CEO and president of the nonprofit Worldreader, David Risher asserts the immense potential for A.I. to support skilled reading development. While questions about misinformation, algorithmic bias, and ethics continue to swirl around A.I., the role it will play in education seems to be inevitable. With nearly 70% of 10-year-olds in low and middle-income communities lacking literacy, the possibility of harnessing A.I. to lessen learning disparity is vast. However, to ensure this technology will benefit all children, nonprofit and for-profit must come together to make A.I. both equitable and inclusive.

The science of reading continues to gain momentum throughout the United States, especially as schools attempt to make up lost instructional ground following the pandemic. Despite the ineffectiveness of balanced literacy programs, it is still emphasized by many colleges of education, leaving educators without proper training on evidence-based practices. As a result, families have been left to support struggling readers that never received effective instruction. As states adopt laws to promote reading research, more students are getting the instruction they need to read proficiently.

Join us on May 18 as we delve into how districts can?Incorporate the Science of Reading Into their Literacy Program. This webcast will provide attendees with tangible adjustments that can be made to the classroom environment and the literacy block to align more with evidence-based practices. Examples include a discussion of running records vs. CBMs, word walls vs. sound walls, and leveled readers vs. decodable texts.

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