The Science of Reading Spectacle: A qualitative media analysis of media reporting on Science of Reading policy

• In Event: Educational Battles and Bridges: Media, Curriculum, and Civic Engagement Across Contexts

Abstract

In recent years, the Science of Reading (SoR) has emerged as an approach to literacy reform, prompting widespread policy changes across states. Yet, the role of media in shaping the narrative and momentum behind SoR reforms remains underexamined. This paper explores how media coverage of SoR reforms between 2015 and 2025 reflects elements of political spectacle. Drawing on a qualitative analysis of national media and reports from five focal states, we identify three strategies used in media discourse: constructing a battle, creating an illusion of rationality around SoR-aligned reforms, and deploying symbolic language to dramatize aspects of SoR. This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of how media narratives influence the adoption and implementation of education policy.

Authors

• Sarah L. Woulfin, University of Texas at Austin

• Daniel Dawer, University of Texas at Austin