New Curriculum, Same Scores: Did Your District Just Waste Millions?
with Dr. Shawn Datchuk | October 11, 2026
▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ue4vljZJNfw
Districts are spending millions on shiny new reading programs. So why are so many scores stuck?
Shawn Datchuk, professor of special education at the University of Iowa and former director of the Iowa Reading Research Center, helps schools choose reading materials. Teachers keep asking him the same question: will any of these actually help my kids learn to read? His honest answer may surprise you.
Our promise: In under 30 minutes, you'll stop guessing about your reading program and start knowing what to look for, what to question, and what to do on Monday.
You'll walk away knowing:
- Why "state-approved" doesn't mean "proven to work"
- How to read EdReports and The Reading League reviews like an expert
- Why scores often dip in year one, and when to worry
- The questions to ask before your district signs the next contract
- How to get results from the program you already have
Whether your school just adopted a new curriculum or is about to, this episode saves you time, money, and frustration.
📖 Read the article: "New Reading Textbooks, Same Problem: Why Children's Reading Scores in the US Aren't Rising" by Shawn M. Datchuk, The Conversation (April 2026)
https://doi.org/10.64628/AAI.cmaeawstq
No hype. No sales pitch. Just the research and what it means for your kids.
Real Teachers. Unbiased. Unafraid.
📩 Judy@TheLiteracyView.com
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