Reading disability and illiteracy are among the most pressing educational issues facing the United States today. At least 40 percent of America's fourth-graders are unable to read at grade level and a similar proportion of adults read at the lowest two levels of prose literacy. Here, the authors present an unflinching examination of the science and politics of reading disability in this country. The Reading Glitch sheds light on the philosophical, pedagogical, and cultural causes of reading failure and reveals the scientific findings that point to promising solutions. Includes: -The story of Oregon's Bethel School District where disadvantaged children are becoming top-notch readers and special-education referrals have been reduced as a result of using the "three-tier" model for preventing and treating reading disabilities -The faulty assumptions underlying many current teaching practices -An overview of the dangerous ideologies that hurt children and hinder educational progress -Studies showing an anomaly in the way disabled readers' brains process print Written in engaging prose, the book shows how the great strides made by recent scientific research are revolutionizing real teaching and real learning. The true stories about the casualties of wrong-headed practices and the people who are working to remedy them bring the historical and scientific points to life. These personal accounts--Q&A interviews with students, parents, educators, researchers, and other community members--are the heart and soul of a book that reveals essential truths about literacy in America.