In Between Days

The process of large-scale school change is complicated and messy. If there was a clear path forward, it would have already been found and implemented.

So here we are, a few years into a movement toward aligning reading instruction with the science, and it seems like a good time to offer a few observations. While legislators and policy makers have good intentions, in some cases they have gotten out ahead of the existing research, available products, and/or the capacity of educators. The rush to action may be doing more harm than good.

To steer out of the curve, or help slow-to-adopt states and districts avoid a tailspin, I'm offering questions in four areas of action: Assessment, Professional Development, HQIM, and Reading Plans.

The table below positions these four common policy areas the top. The bottom section lists some of the unintended negative outcomes of the policies. The area between includes questions that attempt to unpack the nuance related to each area. I hope the questions will spark discussion. Download a PDF here.