WHAT STATE LEADERS CAN DO TO SUPPORT MIDDLE GRADES LITERACY ACHIEVEMENT COMMENTS FROM ALABAMA Middle Grades Literacy Forum September 28-29, 2006 Phoenix, Arizona

Alabama’s Literacy Efforts CONTEXT 2

WHAT IS THE ALABAMA READING INITIATIVE? A statewide movement Anchored by reading research Aimed at ultimately achieving grade-level reading for all of Alabama’s public school students 3

HOW IS IT ACHIEVING ITS GOAL? Through intensive teacher development efforts and ongoing support for coaches and principals that are the heart and soul of the initiative. 4

THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE PROVIDED FUNDING 16 schools in $ 1,500,000 (Private Sources) 81 schools in $ 6,000, schools in $10,000, schools in $11,300, schools in $12,500, schools in $12,500, schools in $40,000, schools in $56,000, schools in $56,000,000 5

90 Middle Grades (4-8, 4-12, 5-7, 5-8, 6-7, 6-8, 7-8, 7-9, K-7, K-8) 18 Bonafide High Schools (9-12 or 10-12) 9 Grades 6-12, Grades K-12 (If we add intermediate schools, the total would be 135.) Schools with Grade 7 and Higher SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ARI

HOW WERE READING INITIATIVE SCHOOLS INITIALLY SELECTED? It was voluntary Schools were selected from a pool of applicants that made seven commitments 7

SEVEN COMMITMENTS OF ARI SCHOOLS 1. Set 100% literacy as a goal. 2. Achieve commitment of at least 85 percent of faculty. 3. Attend an intensive training program. 4. Be led by the principal. 8

SEVEN COMMITMENTS OF ARI SCHOOLS 5. Adjust their reading instruction accordingly. 6. Model research-based reading instruction for other schools. 7. Be evaluated by an outside evaluator. 9

INITIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS SECONDARY SCHOOLS Day 1- Conceptual Framework: What interferes with reading comprehension? Formal Assessment : What does the data say about students at our school? Faculty Meeting: What does the research say about struggling readers? How do we anticipate serving struggling readers? Day 2- Informal Assessment Faculty Meeting: What is our plan for informally assessing struggling readers? Day 3- Vocabulary Development 10

Day 4 - Comprehension Instruction Day 5 - Comprehension Instruction Faculty Meeting: How can we organize schoolwide to give struggling readers what they need to be successful? Day 6- Content Area Reading Day 7- Reading/Writing Connection Day 8 - Reading/Writing Connection Faculty Meeting: What policies and practices need to be in place to increase the amount of reading and the amount of writing? Day 9- Content Area Writing Day 10- Faculty Meeting: What is our plan for serving struggling readers? 11

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NCE Points Relative to Non-ARI Schools ElementaryMiddleHigh ARI Schools Stanford 9 Reading Scores Average Reading Comprehension Gains, by Grade Level Chart 3 13

not YEAR 5 EVALUATION 14

AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH STUDY 2004 Findings 1.Differentiate the models used for implementing primary/elementary and intermediate/secondary literacy initiatives. 2.Create a community of learners in which teachers, coaches, and administrators work as a team. 3.Provide secondary schools with consistent support from specialized staff. 4.Be attentive to the local, state, and national policy environment to maintain emphasis on secondary literacy. 15

WHAT HAS ADOLESCENT LITERACY LOOKED LIKE FROM 2002 TO 2006? 30 secondary schools used local funds to become ARI schools 4 Regional Reading Coaches supported 135 intermediate, middle, and high schools ARI studied recent research and updated model for secondary schools ARI wrote Striving Readers grant but did not submit ARI released RFP, seeking to reignite adolescent literacy effort 16

WHAT MADE SPARKS FLY AGAIN? Reading Next: A Vision for Action and Research in Middle and High School Literacy Biancarosa, G., and Snow, C.E. (2004) 17

THE FIFTEEN ELEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE ADOLESCENT LITERACY PROGRAMS Instructional Improvements 1.Direct, explicit comprehension instruction 2.Effective instructional practices embedded in content 3.Motivation and self- directed learning 4.Text-based collaborative learning 5.Strategic tutoring 6.Diverse texts 7.Intensive writing 8.A technology component 18

THE FIFTEEN ELEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE ADOLESCENT LITERACY PROGRAMS Infrastructural Improvements 9. Ongoing formative assessment of students 10. Extended time for literacy 11. Professional development 12. Ongoing summative assessment of students and programs 13. Teacher teams 14. Leadership 15. A comprehensive and coordinated literacy program 19

LAUNCHED ARI-PAL Released an RFP to 130 LEAs (April, 2006) Anticipated forming 8-10 partnerships with selected LEAs 20

THE PARTNERSHIP ARI Professional Development and Weekly Support LEA Leadership and Financial Support 21

THE QUESTIONS 1. What does it take? 2. What is the cost? 22

LAUNCHED ARI-PAL (Cont.) Received 30 proposals (May, 2006) Selected 14 partners (May, 2006) Trained 14 faculties (Summer, 2006) Purchased GRADE for a common informal measure Provided $140 per student to assist intervention ($25,000 - $140,000) 23

WHAT WILL WE DO IN THE MONTHS AHEAD? We will study the ARI-PAL implementation and results and make any adjustments needed to increase effectiveness. We will continue to seek incentives to motivate LEAs to invest resources in practices that have proven effectiveness for adolescent literacy. We will make use of 14 ARI-PAL pilot schools as demonstration sites that can partner with other LEAs. We will seek other partners (LEAs, business community, legislature) who can increase the resources available for expansion. 24

CONTACT INFORMATION Katherine A. Mitchell, Assistant State Superintendent of Education for Reading Director, Alabama Reading Initiative Director, Alabama Reading First Initiative Phone: Reeda Betts Secondary Specialist, Alabama Reading Initiative Phone: