The question of what defines a species has vexed scientists across the ages, particularly in conservation, where decisions require a firm understanding of biodiversity.

Getting to a more unified definition of the science of reading is a challenging task, but having conversations about different understandings of the term is a good place to start, said Goodwin.

An effort to overhaul how children learn to read, known as the science of reading movement, is sweeping the country. Here’s where it stands.