Stronger Teachers Unions Linked to Weaker Early Literacy Policies, Analysis Finds

States where teachers unions wield greater political influence have adopted fewer evidence-based early literacy policies and generally post weaker student reading results, according to a new analysis from the center-left Progressive Policy Institute. Rachel Canter, PPI’s director of education policy, compared the Thomas B. Fordham Institute’s June 2026 ranking of teachers union strength with ExcelinEd’s