The 鈥渟cience of reading鈥 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鈥檚 approach to teaching reading and preparing future reading teachers. In 2019, Mississippi saw its students鈥 reading scores improve on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Many states have since copied key components of the Magnolia State鈥檚 legislation, seeking to replicate the 鈥淢ississippi model.鈥
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鈥檚 still unclear whether many of these legislative actions will move the needle on student achievement, experts say.
See below for the requirements of each state鈥檚 legislation or policy. Hover over the category names below for details on these requirements.
When Did States Pass These Laws?
Search for a state below to learn more about its legislation or policy. This table also shows which states allow or require 3rd grade retention for students who are behind in reading.
Contact Information
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How to Cite This Page
Schwartz, Sarah. (2022, July 20). Which States Have Passed 鈥楽cience of 69传媒鈥 Laws? What鈥檚 in Them? Education Week. Retrieved Month Day, Year from /teaching-learning/which-states-have-passed-science-of-reading-laws-whats-in-them/2022/07