The Maryland Initiative for Literacy and Equity released recommendations for teacher preparation, the science of reading and community engagement in a report at the Accountability and Implementation Board meeting Wednesday.
After reviewing the draft literacy plans focusing on K-5 for each of the 24 school systems under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future implementation plans, MILE visited schools to assess their literacy implementation.
Schools submitted plans for the secondary grades, with pre-K-12 plans a few months later. MILE, a joint institution between the University of Maryland and Morgan State University, plans to review the revised versions by the end of September.
“All 24 of our LEAs (local education agency) of our districts, the leadership is working hard, these individuals are working tirelessly. I feel that they are not sleeping at all but they are really working hard on this initiative,” Donald Bolger, director of MILE, said in the meeting.
The Maryland State Department of Education approved the literacy plans of all 24 education agencies, and State Superintendent of Schools Carey Wright sent a recommendation that the AIB do the same.
Within its review, MILE found a lack of teacher preparation, misperceptions around the science of reading concept and a lack of engagement for secondary grades with evidence-based teaching practices, among other findings.
All of the local school systems provided training on the science of reading and evidence-based teaching practices, which refers to a method meant to effectively teach reading based on scientific evidence about how children learn.
In January, Wright introduced a resolution requiring Maryland districts to teach reading through the science of reading approach, something she focused on in Mississippi, where she had success in raising the fourth-grade literacy level as the former superintendent. For the 2023-2024 school year, 48.4% of Maryland students were proficient in English language arts, up from 47.9% the previous year, according to MSDE.
However, there are misperceptions or simplifications of foundational literacy skills and culturally responsive practices, Bolger said. Often, people think the science of reading is only about phonics, Bolger noted, but really the process is using evidence-based practices, including comprehension, expression and other skills.
There has been inconsistent access to training regarding the science of reading between grades three through five or ESOL, Bolger said, as most efforts have been focused on kindergarten through third grade, rather than intermediate or secondary grades. New teachers were also found to be “ill-prepared” to teach literacy, Bolger said.
Recommendations for training include engaging with institutions of higher education for how they instruct teacher candidates and a statewide approach to science of reading training. It was also recommended training occur during contracted hours and opportunities for professional development including writing, comprehension and vocabulary skills for intermediate students.
Personnel, like literacy specialists and coaches, are also an important aspect to moving literacy forward, Bolger said.
Other recommendations centered on support for teachers to gain a deeper understanding of the science of reading and the curriculum, using data to differentiate lesson plans depending on the student and including writing instruction in science of reading training.
“It’s important that teachers not only understand the why of how children learn to read, we talked about the science of reading or the science of learning, but they also need a depth of knowledge about the curriculum that they are presenting to students,” said Simone Gibson, director of MILE at Morgan State University.
Culture and engagement with the community is an area “in need of a lot of love and support,” Gibson said. Title I schools were taking part in a lot of the work in this area, Gibson said, and it is an opportunity to learn how they get engagement and buy-in from families for literacy efforts.
“These school systems are rolling. Even the ones that are just rolling it out this year, for instance, they are fully and wholly committed,” Gibson said. “I have no doubt that you’re going to see some change.”
