AJLD EMINENT RESEARCHER AWARD WINNER 2024: The rise and demise of reading recovery in New Zealand

Abstract

Reading Recovery (RR) was introduced throughout New Zealand during the 1980s, for children struggling the most with learning to read after 1 year of formal schooling. In May 2024, the Minister of Education decided the programme would no longer be funded beyond 2024. This decision was based on evidence that the programme was not as effective as claimed. We discuss the goals of RR, the theoretical framework of the programme, and research regarding its effectiveness. We present data that indicate that the perceptions of success of the programme in New Zealand appear to be based on inflated test scores, and we call into question the claims that RR works well for struggling readers. We conclude by commending the Minister of Education for defunding Reading Recovery in favour of new early literacy intervention programmes that draw from contemporary scientific research on literacy acquisition.