Episode 10: Insights on Literacy and Policy with Chad Aldeman

Katie Megrian speaks with education policy expert Chad Aldeman, founder of Aldeman Education LLC and creator of ReadNotGuess.com, about early reading development, intervention, and broader K–12 trends.

Chad shares that his son’s kindergarten experience during COVID revealed that his son had not been taught to decode and was guessing words. That realization led him to create Read Not Guess, a free, sequential, parent-facing resource with Levels 1–3, a “daily-ish decodable” program, and an optional app to support sound practice at home.

They discuss declines in national achievement that began around 2013–2015, with the largest drops among lower-performing students. Chad explores possible contributors, including shifts in accountability policy, increased screen time, declining independent reading, and reduced emphasis on foundational skills. The conversation also highlights systems such as Mississippi, Louisiana, DoDEA schools, and England that have emphasized phonics and knowledge-rich instruction.

Chad explains why rising per-pupil spending has not translated into comparable teacher salary growth, citing increased benefit costs and staffing shifts, and discusses alternative staffing and compensation models.

The episode closes with guidance for families: look for high standards paired with high support, seek objective indicators of progress, and do not wait to intervene when a child is struggling.

Resources:
ReadNotGuess.com
chadaldeman.com

https://www.chadaldeman.com/p/do-not-wait

https://www.the74million.org/article/these-schools-are-beating-the-odds-in-teaching-kids-to-read/