Virginia’s State Improvement Grant and State Personnel Development Grant The Content Literacy Continuum & Response to Intervention

I’ve Been Thinking……… The Content Literacy Continuum is like …. a secondary RTI model.

NAEP Reading Below the proficiency level –68% of 8th graders Below the basic level –26% of 8th graders

The Performance Gap Years in School Demands Skills and The “Gap” th 9 th 1Yr 2Yrs 1 1/2Yrs 2 1/2Yrs

Then ask…. Five questions about literacy supports currently in place.

5 Questions 1.What happens for those students who are reading below the 4th grade level? 2. What’s in place in core classes to ensure that students will get the “critical” content in spite of their literacy skills? 3.What happens for students who know how to decode but can’t comprehend well? 4.Are procedures for teaching powerful learning strategies embedded in courses across the curriculum? 5.What happens for students who have language problems?

Finally…. Use a “content literacy” framework to determine an action plan

The listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking skills and strategies required to learn in each of the academic disciplines.

is the door to content acquisition & higher order thinking.

SUBJECT MATTER SKILLS LANGUAGE STRATEGIES Level 1:Enhance content instruction (mastery of critical content for all regardless of literacy levels) Level 2:Embedded strategy instruction (routinely weave strategies within and across classes using large group instructional methods) Level 3:Intensive strategy instruction (mastery of specific strategies using intensive-explicit instructional sequences) Level 4:Intensive basic skill instruction (mastery of entry level literacy skills at the 4th grade level) Level 5:Therapeutic intervention (mastery of language underpinnings of curriculum content and learning strategies)

The Virginia SIG Content Literacy Continuum (CLC) demonstration sites Professional developers –Inservice & preservice Professional developer network Develop and disseminate curricular support materials Policy reform

The Virginia SPDG

Partnerships & Alignment Partnerships –Shared responsibility –Shared commitment –Shared credit & benefit Deep Alignment –Instructional systems –Instructional supports –SPP & NCLB, –State, district and school initiatives

1) Management 2) Content implementation 3) Evaluation 4) Sustainability The topical discussions will address:

1) Management: How to manage the initiative? Identify the demonstration sites –RFP –Informational sessions –Selection panel Staffing/resource allocation –Project Management Team –Training/Technical Assistance Centers (T/TACs) –Cadre –Leadership teams Relationship building

VDOE - Project Management Team VA-CLC Cadre CLC School Leadership Team VDOE Evaluation Team T/TAC Team CLC Division Leadership Team Ensure District Administrators understand the big picture; active in decision-making and communication loop Ensure School Administrators & Teachers are a vital part of the Adolescent Literacy Team & are in the loop Clarifies how Evaluation connects through project management and VA-CLC Cadre Ensure all staff have current information and understand the big picture – not just aspects that apply to them Provide an ongoing feedback loop for all involved Virginia SIG CLC Communication Flowchart

2) Content implementation: Scaling-up Pilot stage –Leadership mechanisms –Fidelity to the model Scaling-up –Professional developers In-service Pre-service –Implementation guide –8 regions, including large and urban districts –Coaching –Expertise Innovation zones –Concentration of skilled workers & advanced infrastructure (T/TAC, SIM Network & Leaders) –Research capacity (KUCRL & W&M) –Policy alignment / waivers Parent involvement?

2) Content implementation: Role of leadership –Distributed leadership and partnerships Local Team “buy-in” –Time & sustained commitment –Research validated –Fidelity –Respect / co-construction –Accountability Systematic factors influencing change –Leadership –Sustained focus –Alignment

3) Evaluation: How to evaluate the impact? Developmental model Implementation Outcome data –State Performance Plan –9 th grade retention –Teacher retention Cost Comparison Aligned & developed in partnership

SPDG Logic Model

4) Sustainability: How do you sustain it? Statewide network of professional developers & coaches (in- service & pre-service) Training/Technical Assistance Centers (T/TAC) Guides for school & division level implementation Developing leaders, coaches & other staff Policy development Establishing a coaching protocol Alignment Guide districts to plan for sustainability –District level coaches & professional developers –Support districts to implement the initiative $$$ ???

Questions?