Walk into some elementary school classrooms today and you’ll witness a troubling trend. Teachers are putting away phonics workbooks. Reading programs are promoting “authentic literature experiences” over systematic letter-sound instruction. 

Phonics is being labeled as outdated, boring, or even harmful to children’s natural love of reading. This shift away from phonics instruction is a concerning trend. 

While alternatives promise engaging, child-centered approaches to literacy, they’re actually setting up countless children for reading failure by abandoning the very foundation that makes reading possible.

Districts Make Dangerous Cuts To Phonics Programs

Several major school districts have made headlines for reducing or eliminating systematic phonics instruction, often with devastating results for their students.

New York City made national news in 2019 when it adopted the Units of Study curriculum, which de-emphasized phonics in favor of balanced literacy approaches. The program encouraged students to guess at words using pictures and context rather than sounding them out. By 2022, reading scores had declined significantly, prompting widespread criticism from parents and literacy experts. 

After spending over $200 million, New York City abandoned the Units of Study program and implemented new phonics-based curricula in 2024. The new programs emphasize systematic, step-by-step phonics instruction to help students sound out words, marking a significant shift back to evidence-based reading methods.

In the 2023/2024 school year, the San Francisco Unified School District started to overhaul its reading instruction. The district continues to move back to phonics-based curricula and new assessment tools.

Oakland Unified made headlines when it cut systematic phonics programs to focus on “culturally responsive” reading approaches. The district’s 2023 reading scores showed that only 19% of third-graders met proficiency standards, well below state averages. Parents organized petition drives demanding the return of structured phonics instruction.

As of 2025, the district is using SIPPS (a phonics-based program) and exploring additional “high-quality Tier 1 Foundational Skills programs” that are “rooted in the science of how children learn to read.” However, they’re still in the evaluation and piloting phase rather than having made a complete commitment to systematic phonics instruction across all schools.

These real-world examples demonstrate the concrete consequences when districts abandon proven phonics methods in favor of trendy alternatives.

The Appeal Of Abandoning Phonics

Many reading programs are moving away from phonics because alternative approaches seem more natural and engaging. These programs emphasize whole language learning, balanced literacy, or guided reading methods that prioritize meaning-making over systematic decoding instruction.

The appeal is understandable. These approaches promise that children will learn to read through exposure to rich literature, context clues, and natural discovery processes. Teachers are told that phonics instruction is tedious and kills children’s love of reading. Programs market themselves as more joyful, creative, and respectful of children’s natural learning abilities.

The marketing messages are powerful. Who wouldn’t want reading instruction that feels more natural and enjoyable? The problem is that these approaches ignore fundamental realities about how children actually learn to read.

The Science Programs Ignore

Reading programs abandoning phonics ignore decades of brain research about literacy development. The human brain doesn’t naturally connect written symbols to spoken language without explicit instruction.

When children receive systematic phonics instruction, their brains develop neural pathways necessary for automatic word recognition. This process doesn’t happen naturally through exposure alone—it requires direct teaching of letter-sound relationships.

Programs that abandon phonics often rely on methods that ask children to guess at words using pictures and context clues. While this may work for simple texts with familiar vocabulary, it fails when children encounter complex, unfamiliar words that require actual decoding skills.

The alphabetic principle—understanding that letters represent sounds in systematic ways—forms the foundation of reading in English. Programs that skip this foundation leave children without the tools they need for reading independence.

What Parents Can Do Right Now

Parents don’t have to wait for school districts to make better decisions about phonics instruction. There are concrete steps you can take to ensure your child receives proper phonics education.

First, ask your child’s teacher directly about phonics instruction. Find out if your child is learning letter sounds systematically and practicing blending skills daily. If the answer is vague or negative, you’ll need to supplement at home.

Choose phonics-based programs for home use. Look for systematic approaches that teach letter sounds in a logical sequence and provide plenty of blending practice. Avoid programs that encourage guessing or rely heavily on sight word memorization.

Read decodable books with your child—books specifically designed to practice phonics skills they’re learning. Regular library books are wonderful for building vocabulary and comprehension, but decodable texts help children apply their phonics knowledge.

Advocate within your school district for evidence-based reading instruction. Attend school board meetings, join parent committees, and voice your concerns about programs that abandon systematic phonics.

Phonics Is The Foundation For Reading

Reading programs that abandon phonics are making a costly mistake that hurts the children they claim to help. Despite good intentions, these approaches ignore how children actually learn to read and leave too many students struggling unnecessarily.

The evidence overwhelmingly supports systematic phonics instruction as essential for reading success. Programs that abandon this foundation are abandoning their responsibility to provide effective literacy education.

For expert reviews of phonics programs, guidance on supporting your child’s reading development, and strategies for advocating for better literacy instruction, visit Phonics.org. Together, we can ensure that every child receives the phonics instruction they need to become confident, capable readers.