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The institutions include Ohio State University, Ohio University, the University of Toledo and Cleveland State University.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A state audit released Tuesday found 10 of Ohio’s 48 teaching universities and colleges are not in alignment with requirements on teaching the Science of Reading to future educators.
The institutions include Ohio State University, Ohio University, the University of Toledo and Wright State University. The state will now work to ensure compliance under state law.
Gov. Mike DeWine announced the audit findings Tuesday morning. Early literacy is a major priority of the governor, who said universities overall are doing a good job teaching future teachers to use the science of reading method, but some can do better.
“We know that the better a child can read, the more likely it is that they will succeed,” DeWine said.
The governor believes the Science of Reading is the best way to teach young children to read. The method uses phonics to build vocabulary by having students sound out words.
“We’re making great strides in our K through 12 schools. We’re not done,” DeWine said.
A law passed in 2023 requires teaching colleges and universities to align with the Science of Reading for instructing future teachers.
The audit showed 33 schools in full alignment, five in partial alignment and 10 not in alignment.
“All 10 of these colleges were found to have at least one instance of using the banned training in their material,” DeWine said.
According to the audit, Ohio State University is 100% compliant on a long list of metrics for the Science of Reading but had several instances of using banned or outdated materials.
An OSU spokesperson said the university is updating the material to fully comply.
“Ohio State is committed to enhancing excellence in preparing the next generation of Ohio’s teachers, with the Science of Reading serving as a cornerstone of our research and instructional practices,” OSU Spokesperson Chris Booker said in a statement.
Ohio Education Association President Jeff Wensing said implementing the Science of Reading in public schools is going fairly well. While he believes teachers are the best judge of what works for their students, he says the OEA appreciates the governor’s focus on ensuring children become good readers.
“We believe that a focus on literacy will produce successful adults, lifelong learners, terrific readers,” Wensing said. “So, making sure that our students are able to read and read well is important to not only the governor, but it’s important to our educators that are working with their students every day.”
The clock is now ticking for universities to fully comply.
“If you can’t read or can’t read well and struggle, it’s just, it’s very unfair. Each student has that right, and we have to look at this as a moral imperative and we have to look at this as a right and that’s why we cannot deviate from this,” DeWine said.
The governor said he will continue to drive this initiative for the last 13 months he is in office.
The colleges and universities not in alignment will have a year to prove they eliminated the banned or outdated training, or the state will revoke approval of those teaching programs.
To look at the full audit click here.
