Opinion: Laws in Place to Support Strong Readers — It's Time for Results

Across almost every U.S. state, recent legislation is transforming how schools teach reading, aiming to improve literacy outcomes for all students, including those with dyslexia, by mandating instruction based on solid research. This marks a significant step forward, and the commitment from policymakers to strengthen reading skills deserves recognition. Yet the reality remains: laws alone dont teach children; teachers do. To make these policies effective, schools must provide educators with the proper tools. This includes robust training, high-quality curriculum, and ongoing support to ensure every student can develop into a confident reader.

Like roughly 15% of U.S. students, my own child has dyslexia. I know firsthand how challenging it is for children when the right support is missing. From preschool, it was clear that my son faced reading challenges others did not. Despite his curiosity, intelligence, and verbal skills, he struggled to link letters and sounds. Initially, I was told this was typical for boys his age wait and see, the school suggested. When I pressed for further help, he was placed in a 12-week reading intervention that emphasized guessing words from context rather than decoding them. I vividly remember the interventionist praising him for reading boat instead of the actual word, canoe. Eventually, he was diagnosed with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD, but crucial time had already been lost, and finding effective support became a new battle.

Sadly, this experience is not unique. Many children across the nation face similar struggles, and the consequences can be severe: 41% of learners with dyslexia fail to graduate high school. New literacy legislation acknowledges what parents and advocates have long known: many children struggle to read not due to a lack of ability, but because their teachers never had the tools to teach them effectively. With this in mind, here are five research-backed strategies that school and district leaders can use to translate policy into real benefits for students.

1. Identify Reading Challenges Early and Broadly

Early detection prevents years of frustration. Students at risk for reading difficulties make more progress when interventions begin early. Districts should implement universal literacy screenings in grades K-2 to spot potential challenges before gaps widen. While these screenings do not diagnose dyslexia, they allow teachers to intervene before the problem becomes entrenched.

2. Train Every Teacher in Structured Literacy

Teachers need both the understanding and the rationale for effective reading instruction. Structured Literacy training, based on the science of reading, equips educators to teach decoding systematically and explicitly. Providing all K-2 teachers with this foundation ensures fewer students fall behind, whether they have dyslexia or not.

3. Ensure Instructional Consistency Across All Levels

Reading support should not depend on luck or location. Schools must establish tiered instructional systems that consistently use evidence-based methods, whether students are in general classrooms, pull-out interventions, or special education settings. Consistent approaches across all tiers help struggling readers achieve lasting gains.

4. Create Accountability for Practice and Results

Policy only drives change when paired with leadership and accountability. Districts should monitor both teacher implementation and student progress over time. Data should guide decisions, helping schools identify and discontinue ineffective programs. Removing outdated practices frees resources for methods that truly improve student outcomes.

5. Foster Collaboration and Engage Parents

Lasting change happens through teamwork. School leaders, teachers, and parents each play crucial roles in a childs reading journey. Parents often recognize early signs of struggle, and their input is invaluable. Schools and families working together, built on trust and communication, create momentum that sustains progress.

Schools are at a critical moment in the push to improve literacy instruction. Across the nation, evidence-based strategies and resources are being implemented in classrooms, giving more students the chance to become confident readers. The work now shifts from policy to practice. Laws set the stage, but their promise is realized only when action in classrooms ensures every child benefits. Its time to turn legislative progress into tangible, measurable success in literacy for all students.

Author: Sophia Brooks