The future of education research in limbo

Key takeaways

Make Me Smart is shifting to three weekly episodes featuring deeper content and diverse perspectives.
The science of reading underscores that reading is not an innate skill but rather one that requires structured teaching.
Federal budget cuts have significantly hindered ongoing research in education, impacting reading instruction methods and policies.
Concerns persist about the future of educational research funding and opportunities, affecting new scholars in the field.

Summary

Future Changes to the Podcast Format

Kimberly Adams announces a format change for ‘Make Me Smart,’ shifting to three episodes per week instead of daily ones. These episodes will feature deeper dives, special guests, and real-world economic perspectives from various professionals and decision-makers. The new direction aims to address audience feedback and expand the content to include people involved directly in economic processes.

The Science of Reading Movement

Emily Hanford, whose podcast ‘Sold a Story’ tackles reading instruction, shares insights about the science of reading, focusing on how many teachers are uninformed about the substantial research available. The science asserts that reading is a skill that must be taught rather than a natural ability. Their podcast delves into historic misconceptions and promotes a research-based approach to teaching reading.

Impact of Federal Budget Cuts

The discussion shifts to the Trump administration's cuts to the Department of Education, which are causing concern among researchers about the future of reading research and education standards. Hanford outlines how these budget cuts have disrupted crucial educational studies and impacted ongoing research into effective reading instruction methods. States have begun passing laws to strengthen reading curricula in response to public advocacy.

Future of Research and Underlying Concerns

Hanford elaborates on the fears and uncertainties affecting educational researchers due to recent budget cuts. The lack of funding raises questions about the viability of future educational research careers and how new educators might lack support. As ‘Sold a Story’ continues its exploration into misconceptions within the education system, they aim to keep uncovering the historical contexts shaping present-day instruction.

Show notes

On today’s show, host of APM Reports’ “Sold a Story” podcast Emily Hanford joins Kimberly to make us smarter about the science of reading movement. It’s gained a foothold over the past few years (thanks in part to “Sold a Story”). But the Trump administration’s cuts to the Department of Education could slow the momentum of reading research and the effort to share it with educators.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

"Episode 14: The Cuts" from “Sold a Story”
"$900 Million in Institute of Education Sciences Contracts Axed" from Inside Higher Ed
"How legislation on reading instruction is changing across the country" from APM Reports
"What to Know About the Science of Reading" from The New York Times
Learn some Kimberly Adams trivia on Marketplace’s Instagram

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