Make Me Smart The future of education research in limbo
Sep 9, 2025
Emily Hanford, a senior correspondent at APM Reports and host of the acclaimed podcast 'Sold a Story,' dives into the science of reading. She discusses the recent momentum in reading instruction, driven by her own investigations. However, budget cuts from the Trump administration threaten crucial educational research funding. Hanford reveals how these cuts could halt important studies on effective teaching methods and the shift in legislation affecting reading instruction across the country.
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Reading Is Learned, Not Innate
- Reading is not an innate human ability and must be explicitly taught to most children.
- The science shows reading requires instruction in how letters map to sounds, not just exposure or motivation.
Two Competing Teaching Philosophies
- There are two competing approaches: teach decoding (phonics) or emphasize exposure and motivation.
- History shows education has swung between starting with explicit phonics and starting with motivating children to read.
Rapid Policy Shift Toward Phonics
- Since fall 2022 at least 26 states passed laws to require phonics and change curriculum and training.
- Policy momentum follows public attention and is reshaping teacher preparation and materials.