Science of Reading News Digest: January 2023

As districts across the nation continue to assess learning disparities as a result of the pandemic, many states are considering ways to bolster literacy achievement with the help of reading research. While the pandemic may have created hiccups in reading scores, it's worth remembering that literacy proficiency has long been a concern. As states begin to rebound from the pandemic, and select states embrace structured literacy, the nation is set to become an interesting experiment on just how impactful best practices can be. Here's what we're reading:

Ten years of NAEP data for 3rd through 8th grade students across the nation have been analyzed by researchers at Stanford's Education Opportunity Project and the American Inequality Project. Through their analysis, the teams have captured a portrait of where in the nation students struggle or thrive to read. State-by-state comparisons bring into question how different factors may impact literacy outcomes, such as poverty rates, statewide dyslexia screening requirements, and statewide positions on the characteristics of effective literacy instruction. An interactive version of this map can be explored here.

Missouri embraces reading research with legislation that provides training for educators, ensures evidence-based literacy instruction is a topic within teacher preparation programs, and requires elementary students have access to evidence-based programming. More recent science of reading legislation requires K-3 literacy screenings to identify those at risk for literacy deficits. While these new laws are a step in the right direction, barriers such as lack of coaching and the prevalence of ineffective teaching strategies continue to threaten the overall improvement of Missouri's literacy proficiency.

In 2022, only 24% of Oklahoma fourth-graders were proficient in reading, according to the NAEP. This drop in achievement, as well as the direct correlation between illiteracy and adult poverty, has prompted state Senate leaders to propose ambitious education finance legislation, with the hope of increasing literacy. Senate Bill 527 would change the student weights used in the state school funding formula to direct a larger share of funds to grades three and below to boost reading instruction.

State Superintendent Catherine Truitt is hopeful that North Carolina students are rebounding from the drop in scores during the pandemic. More kindergarten through 3rd grade students across the state are performing at or above grade level benchmarks than in the previous academic year. Truitt and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction credit the ongoing implementation of evidence-based literacy instruction.

Researchers at the University of East Anglia have found a significant association between literacy and mental health outcomes across multiple countries through a systematic data review. While global literacy rates have risen over the past century, approximately 773 million adults are illiterate, two-thirds of which are women. People with poor literacy had greater mental health difficulties, including anxiety and depression. Low literacy is also related to poorer social outcomes, chronic diseases, and shorter life expectancy.