10/29/2025
Comparing Structured Literacy vs. the Science of Reading
It’s an important time for literacy right now. More educators than ever are learning about the science of reading, and nearly every state has recently mandated evidence-based literacy standards. Embracing reading science is a monumental shift from how reading has historically been taught. Many educators need training, and school leaders are scrambling to catch up. All the excitement has paved the way for some misunderstandings, from thinking the science of reading is a curriculum to confusing Structured Literacy and the science of reading as one and the same. The terms are often used interchangeably—but they are titanically different.
To help all students learn to read and reverse downward literacy trends, it is important to understand the difference between Structured Literacy and the science of reading and the distinct roles each plays.
Let’s unpack what you need to know, including:
Structured Literacy vs. the science of reading
The two most important takeaways for Structured Literacy
What you should look for in an evidence-based literacy program
How Lexia® can support you
What Is the Science of Reading?
The science of reading is not a curriculum; rather, it’s the gold-standard body of research about learning to read. It’s a consensus of empirical research from decades of studies—literally thousands from psychology, neuroscience, sociology, linguistics, and other specialties that uphold basic truths about how we learn to read. A full breakdown of the science of reading includes several well-known concepts, like the Simple View of Reading, Scarborough’s Reading Rope, and these five essential components:
Phonemic Awareness: Recognizing the smallest sounds (phonemes) in a word
Phonics: Connecting symbols to sounds (letters to sounds)
Vocabulary: Building a library of words and their meanings
Fluency: Reading and understanding with ease
Comprehension: Gaining the ability to read to learn
The science of reading proves all students—no matter their abilities or backgrounds—can learn to read. The catch: Every essential reading component must be taught explicitly and in sequence to avoid skill gaps and ensure students can read to learn.
Enter Structured Literacy.
What Is Structured Literacy?
Structured Literacy puts the science of reading research into practice, applying the best-known evidence for how our brains learn to read. An umbrella term for Orton-Gillingham, the Wilson Reading System, and other qualifying teaching methods, Structured Literacy addresses foundational reading skills and specific instruction principles.
2 Takeaways Every Leader Should Know
The International Dyslexia Association® (IDA) introduced and formalized the approach. According to the IDA, a Structured Literacy approach must include two hallmarks of what and how to teach the science:
1. What to teach: It must uphold the skills and concepts found in the science of reading, specifically:
Phonology: The sound system of language
Sound-symbol mapping: Associating sounds to letters
Syllables: Sound parts of a word
Morphology: Word parts and how they fit together
Semantics: The meaning of words in context
Syntax: How words make sentences
2. How to teach: More importantly, instruction must follow these three teaching principles:
Explicit
Systematic & cumulative
Diagnostic
Meaning evidence-based skills and concepts must be directly taught and practiced step by step, from easier to more complex, so students expand upon what they know. Educators are empowered to diagnose skill gaps and be responsive, differentiating instruction for every ability.
Key Differences Between Structured Literacy vs. Science of Reading
The science of reading is not the same as Structured Literacy, just as medical research is not the same as practicing medicine. One is scientific know-how, the other real-world application—distinctly different but deeply interconnected.
Structured Literacy provides a clear road map for what should be taught and how to implement evidence-based literacy instruction in the classroom. The science of reading explains why the strategies and approaches used in Structured Literacy are effective, giving teachers confidence in their practice.
| The Why Behind What We Teach | How We Teach | The Result | ||||||
| Science of Reading | Structured Literacy | Literacy Proficiency | ||||||
|  | Evidence-based literacy elements
| | 95% of all students–no matter their backgrounds–learn to read | ||||
Science of Reading vs. Structured Literacy: Why the Distinction Matters
Many experts now believe popular teaching methods from the past contributed to why students lack proficiency today. Learning to read and reading to learn should not be separate stages, but intertwined. Like in the Simple View of Reading, students must learn both how to recognize words and understand language to fully comprehend text, even at the earliest ages. Weakness in either can lead to reading failure. So, teaching phonics and spelling, for example, may not make sense to students unless they know what sounds mean in English (phonemic awareness).
What Does This Mean for Educators?
Dr. Louisa Moats was right. Teaching reading is rocket science. Educators need professional learning that doubles down on evidence-based findings and supports a Structured Literacy approach. Likewise, curriculum decisions and instructional support have to ensure no students fall behind and all students get high-quality instruction equally. All teachers should have the skills to identify struggling students and a toolbox of research-based interventions and programs to help. When they do, the science of reading really works, with some districts seeing results in every grade and all tiers. One Arkansas district saw sixth grade students boost performance on the state-standardized ACT Aspire Reading test by 16%.
What Leaders Should Look for in a Literacy Program
The good news is the path to better reading is well-traveled. A literacy program rooted in the science of reading makes it easier to take a Structured Literacy approach, and offers students and teachers tangible benefits, including:
High-Quality Instruction
Look for supporting programs that build on skills, meet students at their level, and advance once each skill is mastered. For instance, Lexia® Core5® Reading follows a developmental sequence, building skills from simple to complex.
A solid program should also provide science-based materials, access to professional communities, and content for teachers to use in the classroom.
Informed Intervention
Choose programs with real-time progress monitoring so educators can see how students are doing in the moment and catch problems before they escalate.
Teacher Retention
Teachers stay engaged when they feel supported and valued. Effective programs help educators apply the core principles of the science of reading across K–12 and provide strong implementation support, so teachers are not bogged down with technical issues.
Structured Literacy vs. Science of Reading: Strategies & Tools
There are some great ways to weave reading science into the daily classroom routine. For example, elementary teachers can flip how they introduce the alphabet. Instead of traditional letter-first pictures, use phoneme sheets with letter sounds, e.g., /u/ for Umbrella.
One of the biggest hurdles for students is fluency. It is important students bridge decoding skills with reading flow and accuracy. Offer opportunities for students to practice their skills across a range of texts, not just decodable texts.
For older students, shoring up basic skills enables them to tackle more complex concepts. Added coaching and practice in vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension can make a huge difference.
Bridging Success: How Lexia Can Help
Programs that claim to be based on the science of reading can cherry-pick the evidence. To feel confident in your choice, look for solutions that are proven to help Tier 1, 2, and 3 students. For example, a national study of more than 12,000 students found 80% of those using Lexia retained skills and 40% accelerated learning. The findings highlight how effective a program grounded in the science of reading can be.
Using an Adaptive Blended Learning model, Lexia adheres to Structured Literacy principles so students are taught explicitly and systematically in the program, while educators get actionable data to respond based on students’ needs. Lexia also helps teachers grow their skills with evidence-based professional learning that makes it easier to spot students’ needs and know how to support them.
Implementing an evidence-based approach is an incredible opportunity for creating better readers every day. Understanding the differences between the science of reading and Structured Literacy gives you a blueprint for success. One North Carolina district saw 85% of students using Lexia advance one grade level in a single year. As Jason Griffin, executive director of elementary and federal programs, Craven County School District, explains, “It’s not just about meeting students where they are.” It’s also about seeing how far they can go.
Start by exploring the science of reading and how it can guide classroom practice.
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