New Year, New Readers: Why Decodable Books Are Key to Unlocking Literacy

The holidays are over, and the new academic term offers a critical opportunity to refocus on literacy. Across the nation, reading instruction is undergoing a mandatory, legislatively-driven shift toward evidence-based practice - the science of reading (SoR). This movement demands a return to systematic, explicit phonics instruction, teaching children the complete code that connects sounds to print.

But what gives teeth to a great phonics lesson? The answer is giving students the right tools for practice. This is where high-quality decodable books become non-negotiable, serving as the essential bridge between foundational skills taught and reading fluency.

The Legislative Mandate

Over 40 states have now enacted laws or policies requiring reading instruction to align with the science of reading.

This legislative wave has standardized the shift, creating clear mandates for how schools must teach reading. Key initiatives from states leading this charge include:

• Delaware: Launched the Bridge to Practice Grant (up to $7.2M) to fund Science of Reading curriculum adoption and require comprehensive teacher training for all PK–3 educators by 2027–2028.

• Michigan: Passed new literacy/dyslexia laws requiring K–3 screening for dyslexia and mandating the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and professional learning aligned with the science of reading.

• California: Dedicated $200 million to the Golden State Literacy Plan, which legally requires all credential programs and instructional materials to align with explicit and systematic phonics instruction.

• Iowa: Invested over $3.5 million to provide every first-grade student (and other high-need students) with take-home decodable book packs to reinforce classroom phonics with parental involvement.

• Pennsylvania: Passed a bill requiring the Department of Education to develop an approved list of curricula and structured literacy trainings for teachers.

• New Jersey: Signed bills establishing a Working Group on Student Literacy and mandating literacy screenings at least twice annually for students in grades K–3 starting in 2025–2026.

• Maryland: State resolution requires all schools to align instruction with the science of reading by the 2024–2025 school year.

• Ohio: Invested heavily ($86M for training, $64M for materials) and established a rigorous audit process to ensure all higher education teacher preparation programs comply with and teach the science of reading.

The Importance of Decodable Books 

Phonics is built on the principle that written English follows a reliable code that must be taught sequentially. A student masters simple patterns before moving to complex ones. The moment a child learns a new phonics pattern (e.g., short 'a' or the digraph 'sh'), they need to apply it immediately and successfully - in reading decodable books.

A decodable book is strategically controlled: at least 90% of its words use only the sound-letter relationships the student has already been explicitly taught. This intentional design eliminates the need for guessing based on pictures or context clues. Instead, the student applies their newly acquired code knowledge, confidently blending sounds – for example, /c/, /a/, /t/ to read the word "cat."

Whole Phonics provides carefully sequenced decodable books with a clear scope and sequence. Decodable books are not the end goal, but they are the necessary training ground. They are a temporary, high-leverage tool that allows emerging readers to practice their skills until decoding becomes automatic. By embracing them, we are ensuring compliance with state mandates and, more importantly, establishing the robust foundation every child needs to become a successful, confident reader.