Editor’s Note: Click on the words highlighted in this story to pull up a definition and short research summary. When is a reading test not a true reading test? Most of the time. For years, cognitive ...

“Data-driven” instruction makes sense only if the data that’s driving it makes sense. And much of the data used to guide reading instruction doesn’t. Throughout the school year, classrooms across the ...

It can take years for students to acquire enough academic knowledge to make a difference in reading test scores. A new study suggests that standardized reading tests often fail to reflect what ...

The more children know about a subject, the easier they’ll find it to read and understand a passage about that topic. It’s a simple idea that’s backed up by research: Studies have shown that students ...

January 8, 2026 - It's time for John Fensterwald's annual predictions for what's in store for education in 2026. A panel of reading experts has designated the tests that school districts can use to ...

Parents concerned about how well their children are learning to read in school can turn to a free online assessment tool to determine a student’s reading level and detect any specific reading ...

The Hechinger Report covers one topic: education. Sign up for our newsletters to have stories delivered to your inbox. Consider becoming a member to support our nonprofit journalism. The kids are not ...

Get the Ed Chat newsletter: Enter your email for weekly updates about Alabama schools from Trisha Powell Crain: Reading scores for Alabama’s second and third graders have dipped slightly, according to ...