House Education Committee Hearing on Reforming Reading and Math Programs

The Reading Wars and Math Challenges

• 💡 The "reading wars" are largely over, with science-backed literacy instruction prevailing in most states, yet progress remains uneven.
• 📉 Recent NAPE scores show declines in both fourth and eighth grade reading and math, continuing a long-term trend of stagnant performance.
• 🌍 International comparisons indicate American students are below average in math among developed nations.

The Science of Learning vs. Outdated Methods

• 🧠 The science of reading emphasizes five core skills: phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
• 🚫 Outdated methods like "whole language" and "three queuing" encourage guessing words based on context rather than explicit phonics instruction.
• ➕ Similarly, math instruction should focus on foundational skills and direct problem-solving instruction, not just student-led exploration.

Success Stories and Evidence-Based Instruction

• 📈 States like Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama have seen significant improvements by focusing on phonics, arithmetic mastery, and accountability.
• 🚀 Luminous Minds, a California-based platform, demonstrates that rigorous, science-based literacy instruction can yield gains even in challenging districts.
• 🎯 Proven instructional practices, direct instruction, and foundational skill-building are key to transforming student outcomes.

Federal Role and Investment in Education

• 🏛️ While curriculum decisions are local, federal funding for teacher training (Title II), support for low-income students (Title I), and educational research (IES) is crucial.
• ⚠️ Cuts to federal funding and research, such as those proposed for the Institute of Education Sciences, risk uninformed decision-making and harm vulnerable students.
• 📚 Investing in public schools, teacher preparation, and research is essential, not optional, for student success and national strength.

Parental Rights and Educational Freedom

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents are the primary educators of their children, and their rights and involvement in education should be prioritized.
• 🏫 Schools should focus on academic excellence and foundational skills, not on "indoctrination on divisive issues."
• 📊 Transparency in curriculum and empowering parents with information about their child's progress are vital components of educational freedom.