Board of Education, Adolescent Literacy

Board of Education Adolescent Literacy Policy Summit
Closing the Achievement Gap: A Focus on Adolescent Literacy

Preparing students for Virginia’s rigorous diploma standards and for success in postsecondary education and the workforce requires the cultivation of literacy through all grade spans. This is especially true for students that traditionally have performed below statewide averages for achievement in reading and language arts.

The Board of Education’s May 1, 2007, adolescent literacy policy summit, Closing the Achievement Gap: A Focus on Adolescent Literacy, included presentations on current research about adolescent literacy and the perspectives of nationally recognized experts.

photo of students reading Participants were challenged by President Mark E. Emblidge to take insights gained at the summit back to their school divisions and institutions and assist the board in beginning a state-wide conversation about the development of policies and practices to strengthen adolescent literacy.

A key lesson from the summit is that all teachers, regardless of content area, have to focus on building literacy skills – including the vocabulary and comprehension skills required to understand the content of the course.

The video clips below require the free Adobe Flash Player plug-in.
The free Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view resource documents.

President Mark E. Emblidge discusses the need to strengthen adolescent literacy.
PLAY VIDEO

Dr. Emblidge discusses next steps to strengthen adolescent literacy.
PLAY VIDEO

Ronald Ferguson, director of the Achievement Gap Initiative at Harvard University, discusses cultural factors affecting adolescent literacy.
PLAY VIDEO
View Presentation (PDF Format)

Don Deshler, director, Center for Research on Learning at the University of Kansas, says policy makers must challenge assumptions about reading instruction and teacher preparation programs.
PLAY VIDEO

Sylvia Linan-Thompson, director, Vaughn Gross Center of Reading and Language Arts, discusses strengthening adolescent literacy among limited English proficient students.
PLAY VIDEO

Adolescent Literacy Resources for Policy Makers and Instructional Leaders:

Reading to Achieve - A Governor's Guide to Adolescent Literacy, National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (PDF Format)

Double the Work - Challenges and Solutions to Acquiring Language and
Academic Literacy for Adolescent English Language Learners, Alliance for
Excellent Education (PDF Format)

Reading Next - A Vision for Action and Research in Middle and High
School Literacy, Alliance for Excellent Education (PDF Format)