Dame Marie Mildred Clay DBE FRSNZ (/ˈmɑːri/ MAR-ee;[1] née Irwin; 3 January 1926 – 13 April 2007) was a researcher from New Zealand known for her work in educational literacy.

Reading Recovery is an early intervention for at-risk students in grade one that is designed to close gaps within an average of 12–20 weeks.

[11] On 23 April 2022, the Center for Research in Education and Social Policy at the University of Delaware presented the results of a study of the long-term effects of Reading Recovery.

It suggests three possible hypotheses for this outcome: In October 2022, American Public Media debuted a podcast called Sold a Story, discussing the perceived negative impacts of Clay's theory on the teaching of reading in American public schools, as well as numerous studies that contradicted Clay's theory.

[13] In response, several international Reading Recovery affiliated institutions released a statement listing Clay's various awards as proof of the efficacy of her theory.

The Ohio State University board of trustees approved the Marie Clay Endowed Chair in Reading Recovery and Early Literacy on 4 February 2005.