Fourth-grade reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress have risen by an average of six points nationally, the first significant improvement since 2013, following widespread adoption of structured phonics-based literacy curricula.
States that implemented science-of-reading mandates earliest, including Mississippi, Louisiana, and Colorado, showed the largest gains, with some districts reporting double-digit improvements among previously struggling readers.
Education researchers caution that while phonics instruction is clearly effective for foundational reading skills, sustained improvement will require continued investment in vocabulary development, background knowledge, and reading comprehension strategies.
