Across the country, schools are struggling with their most basic job: teaching kids to read. Bearden and Walton are not alone. But what does it take to make things better? A committed principal and staff? A proven reading program? Committed parents? A million-dollar grant? And how did we get to this point?

We've gathered together articles that highlight the history of teaching reading in this country, the role of race in education, and the current state of reading reform. And we've also included coverage of education by local reporters in Fort Worth and Mississippi.