Most Parents Think It’s Important to Implement the Science of Reading, But Few Say Their Child’s School Does

Third annual parent survey from Lexia also reveals that parents want to see more reading-specific technologies in their child’s school, and they support the use of AI by students and teachers

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than eight in 10 (86%) parents^[1] say it is very (55%) or somewhat (31%) important that their child's school implements the science of reading and principles of structured literacy in their curriculum, according to a new national survey of more than 1,000 U.S. parents of children ages 3-17 commissioned by Lexia, a Cambium Learning Group brand, and conducted by The Harris Poll. Yet only 33% of parents say their child's school is doing so.

“Over the last 11 years, 38 states and DC have enacted laws or policies related to evidence-based reading instruction. This shift has increased awareness about the science of reading, which means that more parents now want to see these best practices implemented in their child’s school,” said Lexia President, Nick Gaehde. “In addition, a rapidly growing number of parents would like to see a greater investment in reading resources to help their children both inside and outside of the classroom.”

When asked to think specifically about their child's current reading and language abilities and what the school could improve upon, 50% of parents say their child’s school could improve upon investing in reading-specific technology resources. Further, 54% of parents want to ensure that their child’s literacy curriculum includes features that personalize it for each student, up from 43% last year.

Among other findings in the June 2024 survey are parents’ awareness of and support for artificial intelligence (AI).

• Nearly three-quarters (73%) of parents are very (23%) or somewhat (49%) familiar with the different types of AI such as generative AI and machine learning.
• A majority of parents support their child’s teacher using generative AI to develop activities in the classroom (65%) or create their lesson plans (60%).
• In addition, 55% of parents support their child using generative AI to help with assignments and/or homework.

“As schools roll out new technologies and new resources that are grounded in the science of reading, it is important to inform and educate parents about them. This will allow parents to see exactly how the district and school are supporting state reading initiatives, implementing evidence-based practices, and supporting the individual success of their child,” said Gaehde. “Lexia has led the science of reading revolution for 40 years, and it is gratifying to see parents embrace this approach and its potential to make real literacy change possible.”

Other findings from the survey provide additional insights into where parents think their child’s school is doing well and where it can improve.

• Just over half (51%) of parents say that their child’s school has done well supporting their child’s academic needs, up from 46% in 2023.
• Only 42% of parents are very satisfied with the literacy program at their child’s school, down from 48% last year.
• Fewer than half think their child’s school has done well engaging their child in classroom activities (46%) or ensuring their child is performing at or above grade level (45%).
• About two in five parents (42%) worry about school staffing shortages for the 2024-25 school year, which coincides with the 65% of parents who say they have seen or heard about teacher shortages in their child’s school or district in the past 12 months.

Survey method

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Lexia from June 14 to June 21, 2024 among 1,004 adults ages 18 and older who have a school age child (ages 3-17), among whom 942 have a child who will attend school for the upcoming year. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 4.2 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.

For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact [e-mail].

About Lexia

Lexia®, a Cambium Learning Group brand, is a leader in science of reading-based solutions. For 40 years, the company has focused on pre-K-12 literacy and today provides solutions for students and educators. With a complete offering of professional learning, curriculum, and embedded assessment, Lexia helps more learners read, write, and speak with confidence. For more information, visit www.lexialearning.com.

About Cambium Learning Group

Cambium Learning Group is the education essentials company, providing award-winning education technology and services for K-12 educators and students. With an intentional collection of respected global brands, Cambium serves as a leader, helping millions of educators and students feel more seen, valued, and supported every day. In everything it does, the company focuses on the elements that are most essential to the success of education, delivering simpler, more certain solutions that make a meaningful difference right now.

To learn more, visit www.cambiumlearning.com or follow Cambium on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. The Cambium family of brands includes: Cambium Assessment, Lexia, Learning A-Z, ExploreLearning, and Time4Learning.

^[1] For the purposes of this survey, parents refers to U.S. parents of children ages 3-17 who will attend school for the upcoming school year