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Educator asks State Board to probe American Reading Company alignment with 'science of reading'
Summary
A literacy advocate urged the board to require a rigorous, transparent review of programs on Connecticut’s approved list, flagging American Reading Company for repeated refusal of independent alignment reviews and questioning its instructional approach.
An educator and literacy advocate told the board she is concerned that a program on Connecticut’s approved list appears to conflict with evidence‑based structured‑literacy approaches.
Colleen Otteniak, who identified herself as a parent and literacy advocate, said her district’s fourth graders were the first cohort to receive American Reading Company (ARC) and the cohort’s results (55% meeting reading benchmark in one district) raised concern. She said ARC's materials "on paper, check the boxes," but that the program includes whole‑word memorization and a phonics sequence that "contradicts reading science." She added that ARC repeatedly declined an independent alignment review by a third party (the Reading League) in 2023–25, which she said is a further red flag.
Otteniak urged the board to require a full independent review of curricula beyond terminology and marketing claims, to use clear Reading League alignment criteria, and to make the criteria and review process public before the state‑wide review cycle in 2027.
The State Board did not take immediate action during the meeting; the agenda later included academic‑standards and review committee items where the board will consider review procedures and criteria.
