Structured literacy takes center stage at PA Higher Ed Summit 2023

SYSTEMS

Jun 12

Read by 4th is working to support the highest quality teacher preparation in literacy instruction - so that all children learn to read.

On May 16, 2023, Read by 4th co-sponsored with the PA Branch, International Dyslexia Association PBIDA the PA Higher Ed Summit in Harrisburg with the goal of building capacity among universities across the commonwealth to meet the new Chapter 49 requirements for teacher preparation in Structured Literacy. Teacher preparation in Structured Literacy is now legislated in PA, with compliance required by August 2024. The Summit was attended by a total of 120 attendees, representing 60 universities across the state.

It was an exciting all-day event in which participants gained practical knowledge from their peers. Participants engaged in peer exchanges, or “Table Talks”, related to their program focus: PreK-4; grades 4-8; Reading Specialist; ELL; or Special Education. In addition, breakout sessions led by PA faculty offered a broad array of topics related to structured literacy including: Curriculum and Syllabus Design; School District and University Partnerships; Structured Literacy Resources and Tools to Guide Course Development; and Comprehension Supports in Structured Literacy.

We were fortunate to have two nationally recognized keynote speakers - Dr. Louise Spear-Swerling, Professor Emerita in the Department of Special Education at Southern Connecticut State University, and Dr. Altheria Caldera, Professor of Education at American University. Dr. Spear-Swerling addressed issues related to preparing preservice and in-service educators to use Structured Literacy practices and Dr. Caldera provided concrete recommendations for teaching Structured Literacy in a culturally relevant way.

Many participants voiced interest in continuing the exchange among universities through Communities of Practice. Stay tuned! We hope to have CoPs organized, with our Read by 4th partners, in the coming months.

Tracy Johnson, PBIDA Board Member and Dr. Altheria Caldera_PA Higher Ed Summit 2023

Dr Louise Spear Swerling, Keynote Speaker at the PA Higher Ed Summit 2023

Maria Toglia and Chrstine Seppi- Chair and co-chair of the PA Higher Ed Summit 2023

Dr. Altheria Caldera, Plenary Speaker at the PA Higher Ed Summit 2023

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nancy Scharff is an instructional strategies consultant based in Philadelphia, PA. She leads Read by 4th's Teacher Preparation and Support working group and is an active member of Pennsylvania's Higher Education Taskforce. A long-time advocate for the science of reading, Nancy works to ensure all educators enter the classroom equipped with the skills and confidence to teach reading.

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