Report criticizes Pa. colleges for literacy education preparation, but PennWest, Carlow excel

June 23, 2026 - 03:27

A new report takes aim at how Pennsylvania colleges prepare future teachers for literacy instruction, finding that most programs fall short in teaching the underlying structure of the English language. However, Carlow University and PennWest University emerged as exceptions for their focus on a method called "structured literacy."

Keely Baronak, dean of Carlow University's College of Education and Social Work, said that while future teachers can read well, they often do not understand the logic that governs the language. That gap, she explained, makes it harder for them to teach reading effectively to young students. In 2019, Carlow revamped its curriculum to emphasize structured literacy, which Baronak described as a systematic approach that breaks down the rules of spelling, phonics, and sentence structure.

The report, which evaluated teacher preparation programs across the state, criticized many schools for relying on outdated or incomplete methods. It argued that without a firm grasp of how English works, new teachers struggle to help children who have difficulty learning to read. PennWest was also praised for embedding similar principles into its coursework.

Supporters of structured literacy say it is especially important for students with dyslexia or other reading challenges. The report's findings add to a growing national conversation about the need for better reading instruction in teacher colleges.