New Year, New Literacy Advancements
Dear Neighbor,
Happy New Year!
Please join me in thanking all retiring members of the DC State Board of Education (DCSBOE) for the great work they’ve done in our fight for increased literacy. I’d also like to welcome all the new members for Wards 1, 3, 5, and 6. I am looking forward to these new perspectives on the challenges our communities face and their fresh ideas for creating change.
Thank you, Emily Gasoi, Ruth Wattenberg, Zachary Parker, and Jessica Sutter! Welcome Ben Williams, Eric Goulet, Robert Henderson, and Brandon Best.
Advancing Structured Literacy in DC
Right now, only 26% of fourth grade students in DC performed at or above the proficient level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress exam in reading. 74% of DC students are not reading proficiently by 4th grade.
I’m grateful for the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Christina Grant for championing evidence-based structured literacy reforms in DC. In this op-ed that I co-authored with Dr. Grant, we write about why structured literacy investments are so important for DC right now.
I now get the opportunity to work with OSSE on their new Early Literacy Education Task Force. I’ve been nominated by my colleagues on the DCSBOE to serve on this Task Force. My goal is to work with my colleagues on the Task Force to advance structured literacy across DC, including by equipping reading instructors with structured literacy training. There’s no silver bullet, which is why it’s so important that this Task Force untangle how we fund and support the various elements of the work that must be executed in tandem, including training teachers, updating curriculum/screeners, and aligning state standards.
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Updating Social Studies Standards
This past year, I’ve served as Chair of the Education Standards Committee on the Board. The DCSBOE has been working hard with OSSE to revise our social studies standards. I’d appreciate your help to share your comments on the draft standards & to share it with your communities. We’re looking for public feedback before the end of January.
DCSBOE Public Meeting Information
The DCSBOE has our public meeting tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the Old Council Chambers (441 4th St. NW). Please reach out if there are any issues you’d like me to consider raising with my colleagues.
All the best,
Allister Chang