The Sold a Story podcast isn’t over. We recently released three episodes about a school district that has been teaching nearly all of its students to read by the end of third grade—and the district has been doing it for 25 years.
Our investigation into how children are taught to read continues to spark conversations and drive change.
In classrooms and state capitals alike, the impact of our reporting is undeniable and people are paying attention.
Here are just a few examples of the podcast’s impact:
At least 25 states have passed laws to change the way reading is taught—many after Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike cited the podcast as a key influence.
Apple Podcasts named Sold a Story one of its Series Essentials—a list of the podcasts its editors consider among the best of all time.
The podcast has generated nearly 13 million downloads. A recent video featuring a school district in one of our episodes has also been viewed more than 2 million times on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and other platforms.
More than 1,000 people have reached out to tell us how the podcast changed their lives—and their children’s lives.
This is what happens when people come together to support independent, public-interest journalism.
At APM Reports, we’re committed to continuing this kind of work—digging deep, exposing problems, and holding powerful institutions accountable. Your support keeps Sold a Story going and fuels future investigations.
