Ohio Audit Exposes Teacher Colleges Still Using Discredited Reading Methods
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If you’ve ever wondered whether your child’s teacher actually learned the best way to teach reading, you’re not alone. That question has haunted parents for years, especially when they watch bright children struggle with books while everyone shrugs and says “they’ll catch up.” Well, Ohio just lifted the curtain on exactly what’s happening inside teacher prep programs—and the results confirm what many parents suspected: not every future teacher is being trained in what actually works.
TL;DR
What happened: Ohio released results of a comprehensive audit of 48 teacher preparation programs, finding 10 institutions "Not in Alignment" with science of reading requirements—including Ohio State University.
Why it matters: The audit specifically targeted the "three-cueing" method, a discredited approach that teaches children to guess words rather than decode them, causing lasting reading difficulties.
The stakes: Non-compliant programs have one year to fix deficiencies or face revocation of their reading/literacy program approval.
The bigger picture: With 40% of Ohio third-graders not proficient in reading, this audit represents one of the nation's most aggressive efforts to hold teacher training accountable for evidence-based instruction.
State Audit Reveals Mixed Results Across 48 Programs
Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Mike Duffey announced the results of a comprehensive audit evaluating how well Ohio’s teacher preparation programs align with the science of reading. Of 48 institutions reviewed, 33 received an “In Alignment” rating, meeting at least 71 of 73 audit metrics with no banned teaching practices. Five programs received “Partial Alignment,” while 10 were rated “Not in Alignment.”
The non-aligned institutions include several major universities: Ohio State University, Bowling Green State University, Wright State University, Cleveland State University, and Ohio University. All 10 have since submitted formal attestations pledging compliance, but the state will conduct verification audits in 2026 to confirm their claims.
“Decades of research tells us the Science of Reading gives students of all ability levels the best chance to become strong, independent readers,” DeWine said at the announcement. “Our kids only have one chance to grow up. We have an obligation to act with great urgency to make sure every future teacher going through our college programs is learning the best way to teach reading.”
At the heart of this audit is a battle over teaching methods that has profound implications for every child learning to read. The audit specifically checked whether programs were using the “three-cueing” approach—a method now banned in Ohio that encourages children to guess words based on pictures, context, and initial letters rather than systematically decode them.
Neuroscience has definitively shown that proficient reading activates specific brain regions for phonological processing. When children are taught to guess instead of decode, they develop compensatory strategies that mirror the reading patterns of children who genuinely struggle with processing print. In other words, three-cueing essentially teaches guessing habits that become harder to unlearn the longer they persist. The science of reading, by contrast, emphasizes phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—building the neural pathways that support genuine reading skill.
For parents who’ve watched their children “sound out” the first letter and then wildly guess the rest of the word, this distinction hits home. That guessing behavior isn’t a quirk—in many cases, it was literally taught.
Author Quote"
Decades of research tells us the Science of Reading gives students of all ability levels the best chance to become strong, independent readers. Our kids only have one chance to grow up. We have an obligation to act with great urgency to make sure every future teacher going through our college programs is learning the best way to teach reading. – Governor Mike DeWine
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What Compliance Actually Means for Students
The institutions that earned “In Alignment” ratings demonstrated more than just curriculum changes on paper. The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at the University of Texas conducted the audits, reviewing syllabi, observing classes, and interviewing staff. Kent State University, for example, received a perfect score of 100% with no mandatory recommendations for improvement.
Chancellor Duffey emphasized the stakes involved: future teachers trained in evidence-based reading instruction will not only be more employable but will produce better outcomes for students. The research on how the brain learns to read is clear—systematic phonics instruction builds the orthographic mapping that turns decoding into automatic word recognition. Programs that ignore this research produce teachers who inadvertently create reading difficulties in otherwise capable children.
The one-year timeline for non-compliant programs is aggressive but necessary. Ohio law requires the Chancellor to revoke program approval if deficiencies aren’t addressed—a consequence that puts real pressure on institutions that have resisted change.
Key Takeaways:
1
Major universities failed the audit: Ohio State, Bowling Green, Wright State and seven other teacher prep programs were found "Not in Alignment" with science of reading requirements and face potential program revocation if not corrected within one year.
2
Banned teaching practices exposed: The audit specifically checked for "three-cueing"—a discredited method that teaches children to guess words from pictures and context rather than decode them, which neuroscience shows creates lasting reading difficulties.
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Accountability with consequences: Unlike voluntary reform efforts in other states, Ohio's audit includes mandatory verification visits in 2026 and the legal authority to shut down non-compliant programs.
A Template for Other States to Follow
Ohio’s audit represents one of the most comprehensive state-level efforts to hold teacher preparation accountable for evidence-based instruction. With over one-third of U.S. states now banning three-cueing methods, the momentum toward science of reading implementation is building. But implementation varies wildly, and many states lack Ohio’s verification mechanism.
For parents in other states, this audit provides a blueprint for what to demand. Ask whether your state audits teacher prep programs. Ask what methods are being taught. Ask whether banned practices like three-cueing are actually being eliminated or just renamed. The fact that 40% of Ohio’s third-graders were not proficient in reading in 2023 shows how much work remains—even in a state taking aggressive action.
The good news: brains are remarkably adaptable. Children who’ve been taught to guess can learn to decode. Teachers who were trained in outdated methods can learn evidence-based approaches. What this audit proves is that change requires accountability—and that accountability requires transparent measurement. Ohio is showing what’s possible when a state decides that how we teach reading actually matters.
Author Quote"
We understood going in that getting all of our institutions to 100% alignment with the law would require considerable time and effort. The good news is that we are seeing tremendous progress. Just as a teacher does not expect every student to ace the test, we did not expect our colleges to be practically perfect in every way. – Chancellor Mike Duffey
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Every child’s brain is wired to learn to read—but only if they’re taught by someone who understands how that wiring actually works. For too long, teacher training has been a black box that parents weren’t allowed to question, even while watching their children struggle with methods that ignored decades of neuroscience. Ohio just proved that accountability is possible. If you’re tired of waiting for the system to catch up, the Learning Success All Access Program puts evidence-based approaches in your hands today—with a free 7-day trial, unlimited course access, and a personalized 12-week Action Plan you keep forever, even if you cancel.
