The “science of reading” movement is sweeping through state legislatures.
Over the past several years, more states have passed laws or implemented other policies requiring schools to use evidence-based methods for teaching young students how to read. These mandates touch on many different components of instruction, including teacher training, curriculum, and how students are identified for extra support.
The legislative movement gained steam after Mississippi passed a series of laws, starting in 2013, that overhauled the state’s approach to teaching reading and preparing future reading teachers. In 2019, Mississippi saw its students’ reading scores improve on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Many states have since copied key components of the Magnolia State’s legislation, seeking to replicate the “Mississippi model.”
State officials hope that these mandates will shift classroom practice, which will in turn help more students become proficient readers. But reading researchers and practitioners say that the process is rarely that simple.
Even if states are promoting practices with a strong evidence base, initiatives of this scale require careful implementation to be successful. It’s still unclear whether many of these legislative actions will move the needle on student achievement, experts say.
States That Have Passed ‘Science of Reading’ Laws and Policies Since 2013
When Did States Pass ‘Science of Reading’ Laws and Policies?
Details of ‘Science of Reading’ Laws and Polices by State
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How to cite this page
Schwartz, Sarah. (2022, July 20). Which States Have Passed ‘Science of Reading’ Laws? What’s in Them? Education Week. Retrieved Month Day, Year from https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/which-states-have-passed-science-of-reading-laws-whats-in-them/2022/07
