California’s Reading Reckoning: Why Phonics Is Finally Back

For decades, California—the most populous and arguably most influential education system in America—told parents and teachers that “balanced literacy” was enough. That kids would just "pick up" reading if we gave them picture books, encouraged guessing, and told them to love reading.

But love isn’t literacy.
And now, after failing millions of students—especially those from underserved backgrounds—California is making a long-overdue shift: embracing phonics.

What Happened?

In 2023, 59% of California third graders couldn’t read at grade level. In some districts, that number topped 70%.

This wasn’t just about underfunded schools.
It was about broken methods.

For decades, teachers were trained to use "balanced literacy" and cueing strategies—encouraging kids to guess words using pictures or context clues, instead of teaching them to decode using phonics.

Now, California is reversing course.

The state is investing in teacher training and curricula rooted in the science of reading—a research-backed approach that shows how kids actually learn to read: through phonemic awareness, decoding, and structured practice.

Why This Matters for Gifted Kids

You might think phonics is just for struggling readers.
It’s not.

Even gifted students—especially those with asynchronous development or who are twice-exceptional (2e)—can struggle when foundational skills are skipped.

• A verbally advanced child might secretly struggle with decoding.
• A 2e student might have brilliant ideas—but hit a wall with fluency.
• Some gifted kids memorize words early, but stumble when reading gets complex.

We hear it all the time from parents:

“My child hates reading.”
“They’re brilliant—but they’re falling behind.”

It’s often not about motivation.
It’s about missing the right foundation.

What Parents Should Do Now

If you’re a parent of a gifted child, here’s what this shift in California reveals for you—no matter where you live:

• Check for phonics gaps. Even older children may have missed early phonics instruction. It’s never too late to build fluency the right way.
• Don’t assume gifted = early reader. Some gifted students memorize early but plateau fast when decoding demands rise.
• Supplement early. If your school isn’t teaching systematic phonics, consider supplementing at home with tools like: All About Reading, Logic of English, and Nessy.

A Wake-Up Call for the Nation

California’s pivot isn’t just a policy shift.
It’s a national wake-up call.

States like Mississippi, Colorado, and North Carolina made the switch to phonics early—and it worked. Mississippi, once dead last, now outperforms California in 4th-grade reading.

If the largest education system in America can admit it got literacy wrong,
your district can too.

And if they won’t?

You can.

Because gifted or not, every child deserves the tools to read with confidence—and that starts with phonics.

🎯 Final Word

At GiftedTalented.com, we believe brilliance must be built on strong foundations.

Every child deserves to read with confidence—and it starts with giving them the tools to decode the world.