The Reading League Utah is working to advance the awareness and use of evidence-aligned reading instruction for students across the state, according to the organization's mission statement. This initiative follows recent state data released on July 30, 2026, which revealed that while more Utah students are reading on grade level, the rate of students making typical or better progress has seen a slight decrease.
Leadership and Mission
The Reading League Utah, an organization dedicated to the science of reading, aims to bring evidence-based instruction to educators, parents, and children. The organization is led by President Christy Bergin, with Jessica Stowe serving as Vice President. The leadership team also includes Secretary Piper Riddle, Treasurer Amy Mahoney, Membership Officer Teresa Pugmire, Communications and Outreach Officer Lori Anderson, DEI and Local Affairs Officer Raven Cromwell, and Board Member Jennifer Throndsen.
Legislative Support for Literacy
The push for evidence-aligned instruction is supported by state-level resources like the Early Literacy Repository. Established by the 2022 Utah State Legislature through Senate Bill 127, the repository was designed to improve early outcomes. This initiative created a collaborative partnership between the Utah State Board of Education (USBE), the Center for the School of the Future (CSF), and Utah Leading through Effective, Actionable, and Dynamic (ULEAD) Education.
Digital Resources for Educators
The repository provides digital science of reading and science of reading instruction resources that are accessible to a wide range of stakeholders. These include public school teachers, school leaders, parents, and educator preparation programs. According to the Utah State Board of Education, these materials are continuously added to the collection, and a searchable version of the full repository is hosted on the Utah Education Network Hub for Elementary English Language Arts.
State Literacy Performance Trends
State data regarding early literacy highlights the complexity of improving student reading outcomes. As of the July 30, 2026, report, 48.2% of Utah students in grades K-8 are reading on grade level, representing a 1.7% increase from 2023 scores. While reading on grade level by the end of third grade is considered a strong predictor of future academic success, it is not currently factored into school accountability calculations or ratings.
Progress Trends and Assessments
Despite the increase in students reading on grade level, other metrics show a slight decline in progress. The state reported that 67.9% of students are making typical or better progress, which is a 0.3% decrease from 2023. This assessment is based on Acadience Reading, a benchmark reading assessment used for students in early grades to track progress through the end of first, second, and third grade.
Future Literacy Goals
The ongoing effort to implement science of reading instruction aims to address these varying metrics. By providing resources through ULEAD and organizations like The Reading League Utah, the state seeks to ensure that more students meet the benchmarks required for long-term academic achievement.
