The Alarming Rise of Phonological Awareness Testing—But Is It Enough?

Early reading skills are critical for academic and lifelong success, and more states are starting to recognize the importance of phonological awareness testing in young children. Phonological awareness—the ability to recognize and manipulate sounds within words—is a foundational skill for reading and spelling. Without it, children often struggle with Dyslexia and other reading challenges.

As assessments become more common, many parents are wondering: Is testing enough to truly help struggling readers, or do children need something more?

What Is Phonological Awareness?

Phonological awareness is the broad skill of identifying and working with sounds in spoken language. It includes recognizing words that rhyme, counting syllables, and manipulating individual sounds (phonemes) in words. This skill is essential for learning to decode words and become a fluent reader.

Which States Are Implementing Phonological Awareness Testing?

Many states are beginning to screen students for phonological awareness as early as kindergarten and first grade. Virginia, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Delaware have implemented assessments to identify students at risk for reading difficulties (IMSE Journal). Mississippi has been a pioneer in this area. Since the enactment of the Literacy-Based Promotion Act in 2013, Mississippi has mandated Dyslexia screeners for all students during the spring of their kindergarten year and the fall of their first-grade year. These screenings assess phonological and phonemic awareness, among other skills, enabling early intervention for students exhibiting reading challenges (Cornell).

California has recently taken significant steps to address early reading challenges. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, the state will annually screen approximately 1.2 million kindergarten through second-grade students. This initiative aims to identify reading difficulties, including Dyslexia, at an earlier stage than ever before.

Source: Governor of California

All 40 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws emphasizing evidence-based reading instruction, commonly referred to as the “science of reading” (Education Week). These laws require schools to screen young learners and provide intervention programs to improve literacy outcomes.

What Do Phonological Awareness Tests Look Like?

These assessments are designed to measure a child’s ability to recognize and manipulate sounds.

Common tasks include:

Rhyming words – Identifying words that rhyme.
Syllable counting – Determining how many syllables are in a word.
Phoneme segmentation – Breaking words into individual sounds.
Blending sounds – Putting separate sounds together to form words.

Children identified as struggling in these areas are flagged for further intervention.

What Happens After Testing?

Once students are identified as needing support, schools may implement various interventions, such as:

Small Group Instruction – Students receive targeted lessons in phonological awareness and phonics with a group of peers.
Pull-Out Services – Students work with volunteers and reading specialists outside the classroom.
Classroom Accommodations – Teachers may implement multisensory learning techniques, extended time on assignments, or assistive technology.

While these strategies can be helpful, they are often limited by school resources, time constraints, teachers’ training, and class sizes.

Not all children receive the individualized instruction they truly need to thrive.

Why Standardized Phonological Awareness Testing Isn’t Enough

Although phonological awareness testing is an improvement from past practices, it is only the first step. Identifying reading challenges is important, but without highly personalized intervention, many students will continue to struggle.

Public school interventions often rely on one-size-fits-all approaches that do not address each child’s unique learning style. Many children with Dyslexia and other learning disabilities need specialized, consistent, and intensive instruction to make meaningful progress.

How 3D Learning Experts Provide the Support Your Child Needs

At 3D Learning Experts, we go beyond standardized interventions to offer:

Customized, one-on-one tutoring tailored to your child’s specific needs.
Multisensory, research-based techniques proven to help students with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia.
Specialized, highly trained, and certified instructors who have extensive experience working with students of all ages (from 1st grade to adulthood) with learning differences.
More individualized attention than schools can provide, ensuring your child gets the support they need to succeed.
Flexible scheduling that ensures your child receives consistent, uninterrupted instruction.

Our students don’t just improve—they thrive. We have helped students go from struggling with reading to achieving high school-level literacy!

Take Action Today!

If your child is struggling with reading, spelling, writing, or math, waiting for school interventions may not be enough. Individualized support is the key to lasting success.

Contact 3D Learning Experts today to schedule an evaluation and set your child on the path to confident reading!