What’s Hot in Literacy at 30: Trends, Tensions, and Trajectories in a Changing Field

The annual What’s Hot in Literacy survey documents the topics receiving the greatest and least attention across literacy research, policy, and practice, as well as those literacy leaders believe warrant greater focus. In its 30th year, the 2026 survey involved structured interviews with 25 literacy experts who evaluated 29 topics as “hot” or “not hot” and as topics that “should be hot” or “should not be hot.” Findings revealed greater continuity than change across the literacy landscape. No topic was identified as “extremely hot,” while four topics were classified as “very hot”: Artificial Intelligence in Literacy, Early Literacy, Phonics/Phonemic Awareness, and Science of Reading and Structured Literacy. Curriculum and Standards, Disciplinary Literacy, Fluency, and Parental/Family Engagement received increased attention, whereas Science of Reading and Structured Literacy and Social/Emotional Learning in Literacy declined in attention. Writing was the only topic classified as “not hot” while receiving unanimous agreement that it “should be hot.” The findings also revealed notable gaps between the attention topics currently receive and the attention experts believe they deserve. Situated within the survey’s 30-year history, the 2026 findings illustrate a field continuing to prioritize foundational reading instruction while also confronting emerging technological developments.