Dordt University education students are significantly outperforming the state average on Iowa’s newly required Foundations of Reading Test, highlighting the university’s early investment in structured literacy and the Science of Reading.
According to the Iowa Department of Education’s 2025 report, 46% of teacher candidates statewide passed the assessment. At Dordt, that number was 76%.
Dr. Abby De Groot, associate professor of education at Dordt, says those results reflect years of intentional preparation.
The Foundations of Reading Test is part of a statewide shift requiring teacher preparation programs to incorporate structured literacy, an approach rooted in the Science of Reading, which focuses on how students learn to read through phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension.
De Groot says Dordt made that shift well before it became a state mandate.
That early transition has allowed Dordt to build consistency in how reading instruction is taught. This is something that De Groot says can be more difficult at larger institutions.
The Science of Reading emphasizes systematic instruction, which teaches students how sounds and letters work together before moving toward comprehension. De Groot says that the approach can have a lasting impact in the classroom.
While the test is not required for teacher licensure, districts and administrators are increasingly paying attention to the results as they look for well-prepared educators.
De Groot says that impact is already being felt at the classroom level.
According to the same state report, several other Iowa institutions reported lower pass rates than Dordt. Northwestern College posted a 50% pass rate, the University of Iowa 53%, and Iowa State University 40%. The University of Northern Iowa reported a 35% pass rate, while Drake University was listed as above the state average, though specific percentages were not disclosed due to a small sample size.
Dordt also offers graduate coursework and training opportunities for current teachers looking to adopt Science of Reading practices, as the approach continues to gain traction across Iowa.
Featured photo submitted by Dordt University
