Maryland READS

As the year comes to a close, we celebrate the power of stories that unite us and the joy of literacy that lights up lives. At Maryland READS, we are grateful for the community of readers, learners, and supporters who make our mission possible. May your holidays be filled with warmth, wonder, and the inspiration of a good book. If you are looking for ideas to add to your reading list, here are some recommendations from our team.

On January 29, 2025, we’ll find out how U.S. students are doing in reading and math in 4th and 8th grade based on the only common benchmark used nationwide: The Nation’s Report Card. When we last released the National Assessment of Education Progress math and reading scores in October 2022, the results were something of a gut punch. U.S. students experienced historic achievement declines following the pandemic's unprecedented impact on education — nationally and in every state (with the exception of Department of Defense schools).   Research shows low scores have huge implications for student well-being and success. These include negative economic impacts, declines in high school graduation and college enrollment rates, and increases in teen pregnancy and arrests.   Given what's at stake, I'd like to share what I'll be looking for in the upcoming #NAEP release.

🎙️ "It is really looking at who actually has the knowledge, and are we matching the people who have the knowledge with the children who need it most." At our December 11th event, "Turning Words into Actions: Implementing Maryland’s Literacy Policy," Dr. Sonja Santelises underscored a critical question for advancing literacy: Are we ensuring that expertise reaches the students who need it most? This reflects the heart of Maryland READS 3 Proven Paths to Improving Literacy:  📚 Improving instruction,   🌟 Advancing thriving reading ecosystems, and 🛠️ Addressing barriers to success  Together, we can remove obstacles, empower educators, and create a future where every child becomes a confident, skilled reader. Let’s turn words into action! 💬✨ #MarylandReads #LiteracyMatters #words2action 

 📣 A powerful reminder from Dr. Carey Wright at our latest convening, Turning Words into Action: "For families, my charge is to engage with your schools and support your children's learning at home. We need you in order to make this whole thing work. This is not something that schools can do alone, and I think that's part of our job as well. For community partners, please help us reach more families to be able to provide resources to them because your connections to the communities help make our literacy policy stronger and more accessible to stakeholders. And for advocates, continue pushing for every child's right. It is a civil right to learn to read and then help us secure resources needed for sustainable and long-term implementation." At Maryland READS, we are on a mission to create thriving reading ecosystems across our state. Together, we can improve literacy and ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed. 📚     How will you join us in this critical work? Whether you're a parent, community leader, or advocate, your voice and actions matter. Let’s turn words into action!   #MarylandREADS #LiteracyMatters #Words2Action

Maryland READS hosted a powerful conversation yesterday: Turning Words into Action. At the forefront of the conversation was navigating the implementation of Maryland's PreK-3 literacy plan and the important role of creating thriving reading ecosystems to empower communities to support families and students in developing reading skills. We were pleased to welcome State Superintendent Dr. Carey Wright and State Board President Dr. Joshua Michael along with the Maryland READS Board of Directors Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger, Winsome Waite, PhD, Lisa Blottenberger and Kerri Valencia, Ed.D. Leadership for Change (pictured here with Maryland READS Executive Director Trish Brennan-Gac).  Together, we are building great momentum to address the state's reading crisis!  #marylandreads #READStrong Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)

Maryland READS is committed to supporting Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) in their efforts to improve literacy across the state, and while reading instruction in the classroom is critical, a thriving reading ecosystem outside of the classroom is also necessary to ensure every student can read. Through our READ Strong Network, we aim to connect literacy leaders, parents, educators, librarians, child care professionals, businesses, and faith leaders to build thriving reading ecosystems in communities statewide. This is a statewide effort, and each of us has a role to play. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gBciqxJW

Your support makes a difference—every dollar funds critical programs, from student stipends, community networks and convenigs, and statewide virtual discussions. Join us this Giving Tuesday by donating at marylandreads.org/donate/ #givingtuesday

It's encouraging to see Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) modeling the state's literacy plan after the literacy reforms led by Dr. Wright in Mississippi. Under her leadership, Mississippi made remarkable progress in 4th grade reading, moving from 50th to 21st in the nation. @MarylandReads believes that significant changes in student achievement typically stem from systematic reforms. We applaud Dr. Wright and Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) for taking action, and we are excited by the momentum we’re seeing. #MarylandEducation #LiteracyMatters #ReadingSuccess Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gBciqxJW

Reminder, the State Board of Education monthly meeting is tomorrow, December 3rd. On the agenda is the Assessment and Accountability Task Force Report and Recommendations, information on the Maryland Report Card, and the Adoption of Teacher Licensure Foundations of Teaching Reading Assessment. Watch the Livestream or Recording: https://lnkd.in/gWJiVtAP

We agree with Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) that “Learning to read is foundational to success in school and life” and that “being able to read by third grade is an essential gateway for future success in school and in life.” Too many MD kids struggle to read by 3rd grade and MSDE has a plan to change that. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gBciqxJW #MarylandEducation #LiteracyMatters #ReadingSuccess