Aug 31, 20233 min read

Back to school: 12 states regulate literacy instruction

Following a focus on improving literacy in recent years, 12 states now require districts to choose from a list of pre-selected curricula.

In the past, we’ve seen a disconnect between literacy instruction across states, with many relying on outdated or unsupported instructional methods. Now, more states than ever are requiring districts to use science-backed methods.

One major shift is the return of phonics, or teaching students to read by sounding out letters. Previously, some districts were utilizing methods that encouraged students to use pictures or other context clues to guess the meaning of words, such as whole language reading.

Research shows that phonics is more effective at teaching reading, resulting in many states now requiring their schools to choose a phonics-based curriculum from a pre-selected list.

We are likely to continue seeing an increase in state regulations of literacy instruction as much of the country remains focused on reversing low-literacy trends that COVID exacerbated.

Does your state regulate reading?

Here is a summary of data collected last year by APM Reports. Check out their full interactive map for more details on your state.

The top ten and bottom ten states are noted in green and red, respectively. Rankings vary somewhat by source based on indicators used, but none vary too significantly from the 2023 Scholaroo rankings I used below. See Education World Rankings and US News Rankings for other lists.

Which States Mandate Literacy Instructional Methods?

Hawaii
Nevada (#48 in US K-12 Rankings)
Arkansas
Alabama (#46 in US K-12 Rankings)
Tennessee (#41 in US K-12 Rankings)
South Carolina (#45 in US K-12 Rankings)
Virginia (#10 in US K-12 Rankings)
Delaware
Connecticut (#3 in US K-12 Rankings)
Rhode Island
Florida (#42 in US K-12 Rankings)
Kentucky

Which States Provide Advisory Lists for Literacy Instructional Methods?

Idaho
Utah
Oregon
California
Arizona (#50 in US K-12 Rankings)
Colorado (#8 in US K-12 Rankings)
New Mexico
Oklahoma (#44 in US K-12 Rankings)
Louisiana (#49 in US K-12 Rankings)
Texas
Montana
Mississippi
North Carolina (#43 in US K-12 Rankings)
Massachusettes

Which States Provide Some Guidance on Literacy Instructional Methods?

Maryland
Michigan
Ohio
Indiana
Iowa
North Dakota

Which States Provide Minimal Guidance on Literacy Instructional Methods?

Alaska
Washington
Montana
Wyoming
South Dakota
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Nebraska
Illinois
Kansas
West Virginia
Pennsylvania (#9 in US K-12 Rankings)
New Jersey (#1 in US K-12 Rankings)
New York (#6 in US K-12 Rankings)
Vermont (#4 in US K-12 Rankings)
New Hampshire (#2 in US K-12 Rankings)
Maine (#7 in US K-12 Rankings)
Georgia

Is There a Correlation Between Literacy Instruction Mandates and School Quality?

Interestingly, most of the top ten states for education do not mandate literacy instruction methods. Conversely, most states with lower education rankings mandate or provide stronger guidance to their districts in reading instruction.

While I cannot say with certainty why this is, here are a few possible suggestions based on my background as a high school teacher and researcher:

Because these states have successful education programs, the government does not feel the need to regulate these programs.
Teacher and district curriculum freedom is a successful policy.
Teacher certification and training exams already instruct teachers to use a phonics or science-backed instructional method, making state regulation a moot point.

It is also worth noting that the only top ten education states that mandate literacy instructional methods only started doing so in the past two years. Connecticut passed the mandate in 2021, and Virginia in 2022. Both states require districts to use science-backed curricula when teaching students to read.

Suggestions for Further Reading

Interested in more info? Check out the following links:

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