Trends In National Education Policy That will be Impacting the Reading Community

Trends The best way to predict the future is to know the past.... The best way to predict the future is to know the past.... Where have we been and why Where have we been and why Where are we today and why Where are we today and why Where will we be going and why Where will we be going and why

Areas The concept of the proxy measurement of success The concept of the proxy measurement of success School reform ideas School reform ideas Ideas on intelligence Ideas on intelligence Lack of funds Lack of funds How is this translating into policy How is this translating into policy How has and will this impact literacy How has and will this impact literacy

Proxies 1974 – Mike Smith conference on reading 1974 – Mike Smith conference on reading Vocabulary as the key variable for improving students and Title I Vocabulary as the key variable for improving students and Title I Comprehension – Reading First Evaluation Comprehension – Reading First Evaluation Ability to function in content classes Ability to function in content classes

School Reform Ideas 1964 – provide funds to help schools with no tax base 1964 – provide funds to help schools with no tax base 1970s – direct resources to specific areas – professional development, reading, mathematics 1970s – direct resources to specific areas – professional development, reading, mathematics 1980s - Emphasis on instruction 1980s - Emphasis on instruction 1990s – comprehensive school reform – changing school climate 1990s – comprehensive school reform – changing school climate 2008 – Leadership, climate, wider community, language richness 2008 – Leadership, climate, wider community, language richness Core Standards, Language rich environments, etc Core Standards, Language rich environments, etc.

Ideas on Intelligence 1880s – Internal functions 1880s – Internal functions 1900s – Observable behaviors 1900s – Observable behaviors 1970s – Cognitive Sciences/Piaget – Problem- solving 1970s – Cognitive Sciences/Piaget – Problem- solving 1980s – Meaning/Executive Function 1980s – Meaning/Executive Function 1990s – Brain research 1990s – Brain research 2000s – fMRIs/thought is language 2000s – fMRIs/thought is language

Lack of funds Reduced numbers in high need areas Reduced numbers in high need areas More dependence on classroom teacher More dependence on classroom teacher (as with RTI) (as with RTI) Greater dependency on technology Greater dependency on technology Materials – e-readers Materials – e-readers Handheld devices Handheld devices Data collection Data collection Larger class sizes Larger class sizes Furloughing students Furloughing students

Applications to Policy 1. Structure of Assessments 2. Support for professional development 3. Infusion of federal funds 4. What constitutes success 5. How school reform will be judged

Assessments PARCC & Smarter Balance PARCC & Smarter Balance multiple times for assessments multiple times for assessments attention to formative assessments attention to formative assessments making use of technology for: making use of technology for: Rapidly reporting results Rapidly reporting results Taking the tests Taking the tests

Professional Development Historically an area of high attention but modest support Historically an area of high attention but modest support Instruction is no longer the key variable Instruction is no longer the key variable Several Reform Models are not emphasizing professional development Several Reform Models are not emphasizing professional development

Infusion of Federal Funds Title I & IDEA – formula funded – most congressional districts Title I & IDEA – formula funded – most congressional districts Race to the Top, School Improvement Grants, I3, Promised Neighborhoods Race to the Top, School Improvement Grants, I3, Promised Neighborhoods *competitive grants *competitive grants *teacher evaluation *teacher evaluation * leadership focused * leadership focused * wider issues of school * wider issues of school

What constitutes success No longer vocabulary or comprehension scores No longer vocabulary or comprehension scores Success in classrooms – which are emphasizing much more complex abilities and knowledge basis Success in classrooms – which are emphasizing much more complex abilities and knowledge basis College and Career success College and Career success

Judging success What will be the proxies? What will be the proxies? Graduation Rates Graduation Rates Passing end of year tests Passing end of year tests ?

What is the type of professional to be using reading knowledge With Title I established in 1965 – Reading Specialist With Title I established in 1965 – Reading Specialist With emphasis of National Education Goals in 1990s – school building change leader With emphasis of National Education Goals in 1990s – school building change leader With No Child Left Behind – Literacy Coach With No Child Left Behind – Literacy Coach Race to the Top/School Improvement Grant – intervention specialist, transition specialist Race to the Top/School Improvement Grant – intervention specialist, transition specialist

Impacting Instruction Measurement of success will no longer be reading ability but rather how it is applied Measurement of success will no longer be reading ability but rather how it is applied Professional development will be emphasizing not process oriented instruction but how it is applied to content areas Professional development will be emphasizing not process oriented instruction but how it is applied to content areas Wider background knowledge is going to be needed at all levels Wider background knowledge is going to be needed at all levels

Councils that are successful Will be – working with state agencies on professional development to implement core standards AND putting in reading strategies Will be – working with state agencies on professional development to implement core standards AND putting in reading strategies Will be – working with schools to help professionals using reading and literacy in the new occupations Will be – working with schools to help professionals using reading and literacy in the new occupations Will be – working to provide information to membership about how things work and what their role is in implementing change Will be – working to provide information to membership about how things work and what their role is in implementing change

Changing Emphasis in schools is changing Emphasis in schools is changing Emphasis of assessment is changing Emphasis of assessment is changing Emphasis of federal funds are changing Emphasis of federal funds are changing Of immediate emphasis that will change: Of immediate emphasis that will change: Moving from NCLB orientation to core standards Moving from NCLB orientation to core standards Moving more in the direction of beyond instruction Moving more in the direction of beyond instruction Wider need for reading/literacy knowledge but in different career names Wider need for reading/literacy knowledge but in different career names