The science of reading refers to the extensive body of research on how we learn to read and the most effective methods for teaching reading. Our knowledge of what works in reading instruction is based on decades of rigorous, scientifically based research in the fields of education, cognitive psychology, and neuroscience. This research digest provides an overview of the science of reading, followed by a brief summary of research-based frameworks that explain the reading process, and concludes with a discussion of reading research in adult education.