Our President, Jenna Robinson, wrote an opinion piece for the Ford Forum, the publication of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, titled “The Literacy Crisis Begins in Schools of Education.” In it, she traces America’s decades-long literacy decline back to the failures of teacher preparation programs. Robinson notes that despite the evidence presented as early as 1955 by Rudolph Flesch in Why Johnny Can’t Read, schools of education have ignored proven methods like phonics and phonemic awareness in favor of fads such as whole language, balanced literacy, and, more recently, DEI-focused coursework. These practices, she argues, leave teachers unprepared to give students the foundational skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
Robinson underscores that poor literacy has profound consequences: students who cannot read proficiently by third grade are more likely to face academic struggles, economic hardship, and even incarceration later in life. To reverse this cycle, she calls for bold reform. Drawing on the Martin Center’s Blueprint for Reform: Teacher Education, Robinson highlights solutions such as requiring teacher candidates to master the science of reading, strengthening content knowledge, eliminating DEI-based curricular requirements, and opening alternative licensure pathways. Her central message is clear: restoring educational excellence and ensuring that every child learns to read must begin with transforming America’s schools of education.
For the full article, visit the Ford Forum’s WEBSITE.