On this episode of The Report Card, Nat interviews Kymyona Burk, Senior Policy Fellow at ExcelinEd, and Emily Hanford, Senior Producer and Correspondent at American Public Media. Nat, Kymyona, and Emily discuss the reading wars, what's wrong with balanced literacy, Mississippi's rising reading scores, why reading isn't natural, Lucy Calkins, phonics, HBCUs, the science of reading, spelling bees, three cueing, the importance of proper teacher education, and more.

Show Notes:

In the Fight Over How to Teach Reading, This Guru Makes a Major Retreat

Hard Words: Why aren't kids being taught to read?

Comprehensive How-To Guide: Approaches to Implementing Early Literacy Policies

New research shows controversial Reading Recovery program eventually had a negative impact on children

Struggling readers need standards and structure based on the science of reading

Influential authors Fountas and Pinnell stand behind disproven reading theory

What the Words Say: Many kids struggle with reading – and children of color are far less likely to get the help they need