In the era of No Child Left Behind, what literacy research is still needed? How should it be conducted? And what role does research play in determining the kinds of literacy experiences that actually take place in classrooms? This forward-thinking book brings together leading authorities to address these vital and hotly debated questions. Contributors analyze the existing knowledge on core aspects of literacy education, describe how science is currently informing practice, and identify important methodological challenges and research directions. A highlight of the book is a chapter in which Michael Pressley offers an insightful critique of Reading First as well as practical recommendations for improving future policies. This book may serve as a text in graduate-level courses on literacy research methods, literacy assessment, and related topics. It is divided into the following 11 chapters: (1) The Literacy Research We Have (Juliet L. Halladay, Alison K. Billman, Yonghan Park, Fei Gao, Kelly E. Reffitt, and Nina Hasty); (2) Policy Shaping Early Literacy Education and Practice: Potentials for Difference and Change (Kathleen A. Roskos); (3) Home Literacy Environments: What We Know and What We Need to Know (Patricia A. Edwards); (4) Reconsidering Adolescent Literacy: From Competing Agendas to Shared Commitment (Mark W. Conley); (5) Adolescent Literacy: Where We Are, Where We Need to Go (Donald D. Deshler and Michael F. Hock); (6) Research in Writing Instruction: What We Know and What We Need to Know (Gary A. Troia); (7) Integrating Literacy and Science: The Research We Have, the Research We Need (Gina N. Cervetti, P. David Pearson, Jacqueline Barber, Elfrieda Hiebert, and Marco Bravo); (8) Research on Teaching Powerful Composition Strategies We Have and Research We Need (Karen R. Harris and Steve Graham); (9) The Role of Research in the Literacy Policies We Have and the Policies We Need (Barbara A. Kapinus); (10) What We Have Learned since the National Reading Panel: Visions of the Next Version of Reading First (Michael Pressley and Lauren Fingeret); and (11) Concluding Reflections (Michael Pressley with Alison K. Billman, Kristen H. Perry, Kelly E. Refitt, and Julia Moorhead Reynolds).