The state has been deliberating a new literacy program for months. Some advocates say the state needs to make sure that anything it approves is sensitive to the needs of multilingual students. Photo courtesy U.S. Department of Education.
Mississippi schools were ranked the second worst in the nation for fourth grade literacy in 2013. Under the leadership of Carey Wright, Mississippi schools climbed to 21st, earning the title of most improved state for student literacy, and now outpacing the nationwide average. By comparison, Maryland is ranked 40th.
Now Maryland’s top education official, Superintendent Wright is working to replicate her success here, which is based on the “science of reading” (SoR). Community WELL, a coalition of educators, parents, students and policy activists, is advocating for policies that are inclusive of the unique needs and assets of Multilingual Learners (MLs), one of the most underserved populations in Maryland…