Reading instruction is changing across the United States. For decades, educators have debated the best way to teach kids how to read. Now, this research is coming together under what’s called the Science of Reading (SoR) — a research-based understanding of how students learn to read and what instruction actually works.

At its core, the Science of Reading isn’t a curriculum or a single teaching method. It’s a body of observed research that explains how the brain learns to read and what skills are essential for reading success. It pulls together evidence from fields like neuroscience, psychology, and education to identify what really makes a difference when teaching reading.

To help educators and publishers understand these ideas in practical terms, the research often breaks reading into a set of core components that instructional materials should address:

• Phonemic Awareness — the ability to hear and manipulate the individual sounds in spoken words.

• Phonics — how letters and letter patterns relate to spoken sounds, and how this helps students decode written text.

• Fluency — the ability to read accurately, at speed, and with expression.

• Vocabulary — knowing the meaning of words and understanding them in context.

• Comprehension — the ability to make meaning from text by connecting decoding, vocabulary, and background knowledge.

Experts also use models like the Simple View of Reading and Scarborough’s Reading Rope to show how these skills work together to develop proficient readers.

Why This Matters for States and Instructional Materials

Because the Science of Reading is backed by decades of research, many states are now updating their literacy standards and instructional expectations to match what the evidence says works best in classrooms. More than 40 states have adopted full or partial Science of Reading mandates in K–12 literacy standards, while a few are still pending action or have no formal mandates yet.

These mandates aren’t policy language, instead they shape how districts purchase, adopt, and approve instructional materials. Some states are also banning practices that run counter to research-backed instruction, like three-cueing methods, meaning materials that lean on balanced literacy approaches may face rejection in procurement reviews.

Below is a table that shows states by mandate status on Science of Reading:

This snapshot gives a quick look at where state policies currently stand, but it’s worth remembering that these policies continue to evolve.

How EdGate Helps You Stay Ahead

With standards and expectations shifting quickly, publishers and curriculum developers need a reliable way to ensure their content meets state requirements. EdGate is here to ensure your alignments meet the needs of each state you are working with.

• State‑Specific Alignment
  EdGate maps your instructional content to the specific standards and mandates in each state. This makes it easier to see at a glance where your materials meet expectations and where updates might be needed.

• Science of Reading Considerations
  Because many states now reference Science of Reading principles in their standards, EdGate helps you align to those skills, like phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension to avoid practices that no longer align with state guidance.

• Future‑Proofing Content
  When states update mandates or add new requirements, EdGate’s tools make it easier to track changes and adjust your metadata or instructional design accordingly.

For publishers navigating the shift toward research‑backed reading standards, EdGate takes the guesswork out of alignment. You get visibility into standards requirements across states, so you can feel confident your content will stand up in market reviews and adoption processes.