Strategies for Children (SFC) has released a new brief describing the work of the Massachusetts Third Grade Reading Proficiency Learning Network: Changing the Trajectory: Communities Take Action to Increase Reading Proficiency. SFC convened a group of Massachusetts communities to engage in a strategic planning process in collaboration with Harvard literacy expert, Nonie Lesaux. This process included a robust impact analysis drawing on two tools: a Program Design Evaluation Tool and a Funding Analysis/Stability Index.
According to the brief, “After one year of engaging in this comprehensive and innovative effort, these four Massachusetts communities have:
- Refined strategic plans;
- Developed a comprehensive asset map of resources and outcomes;
- Created a profile of the public and private funding supporting those resources; and
- Determined an action plan for more effective and impactful resource allocation and coordination.”
Check out Changing the Trajectory to learn more about this important work.
Other resources of note:
The current issue of American Educator is on early childhood education. Articles include:
- The Magic of Words: Teaching Vocabulary in the Early Childhood Classroom
- Starting off Strong: The Importance of Early Learning
- Taken for Granted: Why Curriculum Content Is Like Oxygen
Vicky Shippers makes the case for 0-3 programs in an Education Week commentary, “Waiting Until Pre-K is Too Little, Too Late.”
NationSwell has a summary of early education policy and funding issues, “Ask the Experts: How Can We Fix Early Childhood Education?”
“The first eight years of life are crucial to academic success. So why aren’t early education programs a priority in the U.S.? NationSwell asks the experts.”
Upcoming Learning Hub posts:
- Implementing a new curriculum in East Boston
- Tagging along on home visits in Pittsfield
- Literacy coaching in Somerville: a teacher’s experience