Coaching the Science of Reading: Supporting and Sustaining Change in Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction

Across the country, new state literacy mandates are driving a dramatic shift in how reading is taught, but many educators are left wondering how to apply these changes in real classrooms. Coaching the Science of Reading offers practical, research-based guidance to help educators, coaches, and school leaders implement evidence-based literacy instruction with confidence. Structured around two key sections—Coaching Support and Content—this essential guide brings clarity to what the research means for classroom practice. Nationally recognized experts Austen Hecker, EdD, and Christa Haring, PhD, equip readers with the tools to support sustainable implementation, improve instructional alignment, and create stronger systems for student success. Whether you're a teacher, coach, or district leader, Coaching the Science of Reading will help you turn policy into meaningful practice and support every child’s journey toward literacy.

Austen Hecker, EdD, coordinates the America Reads tutoring program and is an outreach specialist at Virginia Literacy Partnerships. Her doctoral work focused on data-based instructional decision-making, so she brings a valuable perspective to Tier 1 implementation and reading reform.

Christa D. Haring, PhD, CCC-SLP, has over 20 years of experience in speech-language pathology, reading intervention, curriculum design, and literacy coaching. She has led multiple federally funded studies measuring the impact of coaching in education, and she currently oversees and supports literacy coaches with Virginia Literacy Partnerships.