Accelerating Literacy Growth: The Why, What, and How of Science of Reading-Aligned Instruction

National reading scores are sliding—Grade 4 and 8 averages on the 2024 NAEP are five points below the 2019 benchmark—so district leaders are scrambling for methods that deliver more than a single year of growth in the same span of instruction. This guide offers an administrator-friendly road map built around three science of reading cornerstones: Why skills are taught, what components matter most, and how instruction must be delivered.

The Why spotlights data-driven decision-making. You’ll see how four assessment purposes—identify, monitor, collect, and assess—map to Lexia’s patented Assessment Without Testing® technology, which feeds teachers real-time progress data without hijacking classroom minutes for standalone tests.

The What details the five linguistic domains most predictive of comprehension: Phonology, orthography, morphology, semantics, and syntax. Summaries of landmark studies show why gaps in these areas derail content learning—from algebra word problems to job-application vocabulary—and why rigorous, sequenced content is non-negotiable.

The How translates research into action through explicit, systematic, cumulative, and multisensory practice. Case vignettes illustrate how Structured Literacy routines accelerate learning for entire classes, not just intervention groups, generating more than a year’s growth even after pandemic disruptions.

You’ll also learn how Lexia® Core5® Reading and Lexia® PowerUp Literacy® embed these principles in daily lessons, while Lexia® LETRS® Professional Learning and Lexia Aspire® Professional Learning develop teacher expertise that endures. The guide closes with implementation checklists, equity considerations, and funding prompts you can bring to tomorrow’s cabinet meeting.

Whether you’re updating your literacy plan or launching a districtwide transformation, this resource equips you to pair high-quality instruction with integrated data streams that keep every learner on an upward trajectory.