On a chilly morning at Leonard Flynn Elementary School, first graders played with jump ropes and hula hoops outside while reading tutor Lillie Reynaga set up her materials at a table in the hallway nearby. One by one, kindergarteners came to her table and practiced blending sounds to make one-syllable words. “We’re going to make...

Only 25% of teacher preparation programs cover all the core elements of scientifically based reading instruction, and another quarter don’t cover any adequately, according to a report released earlier this month by the National Council on Teacher Quality. Evaluating 693 undergraduate and graduate teacher training programs, the council found that 40% of programs instruct aspiring educators...