Stand Up for Reading Research

Guest authors Kata Solow and Callie Lowenstein are two of the leading voices of the stand up for reading research movement. Kata and Callie are former classroom teachers who believe meaningful change in education must be collaborative and teacher-led.

Step back and think about it: the Science of Reading Movement is extraordinary, and very unusual. 

Since 2019 -- and in spite of huge political differences -- teachers, parents, journalists, and researchers have worked together and driven the passage of over 430 bills aimed at aligning literacy instruction with research, in all states and the District of Columbia. 

This is a remarkable outcome for any movement, let alone one that lacks formal structure, organization, and leadership. We are a powerful movement. Our strength derives from our drive and passion to learn, drawing insights from our students, our peers, and the rich, expansive research that we refer to as the Science of Reading. 

But where does this research come from? Much of it comes out of a small division of the US Department of Education called the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), which, among other things, funds high-quality research into what works in education. 

Our movement owes so much of our success to the IES. But now this progress is being threatened, as funding and personnel cuts have ground essential research to a halt and upended the IES, as we know it.  

Do you use UFLI, Think SRSD, or Reading Simplified, to name three incredible literacy programs? These programs–that teachers across the country are using to help countless students–were developed as a direct result of funding from the IES. 

Today’s cuts means that the next effective reading program will never get into the classroom. We can’t let that happen.  

With so much happening in Washington, critical, long-term investments like reading research can easily get lost in the shuffle. And if the Science of Reading Movement doesn't stand up for the IES and educational research, who will?

It is time for the Science of Reading Movement to come together again to support reading research and to protect our children’s and future children’s educations. 

We are a powerful movement. We have already transformed reading instruction across the country. By coming together now, by speaking out, showing up, bringing together our friends and colleagues, we can support IES and stop these cuts. 

We are organizing a Week of Action to bring attention to the incredible work that the IES has done and WILL do. This is an opportunity to bring together our friends and colleagues and stand up for our students, teachers, and the reading research we rely on to grow and strengthen our teaching practice. 

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