This week, the Progressive Policy Institute’s Reinventing America’s Schools (RAS) Project hosted a webinar on literacy gaps exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the science of reading, and policy solutions for creating effective reading recovery programs.
“In this post-COVID world, those students who were treading water before are in jeopardy of drowning without the right interventions. ” said Curtis Valentine, RAS Co-Director and moderator for the event. “Empowering teachers means equipping them with what they need — to meet students where they are and address critical gaps in learning and academic achievement. With the right guidance, policymakers can craft literacy programs that are available, accessible, and equitable for all learners.”
Watch the event livestream here:
The webinar’s panelists included Dr. Kymyona Burk of ExcelinEd, Mary Clayman of the DC Reading Clinic, Cassandra Gentry of DC Pave, Dr. Michael Durant of the Academy of Hope Adult Charter School, Representative Allister Chang of the DC State Board of Education, and Washington DC State Superintendent Christina Grant.
The Reinventing America’s Schools Project inspires a 21st century model of public education geared to the knowledge economy. Two models, public charter schools and public innovation schools, are showing the way by providing autonomy for schools, accountability for results, and parental choice among schools tailored to the diverse learning styles of children. The project is co-led by Curtis Valentine and Tressa Pankovits.
The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org.
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Media Contact: Aaron White – awhite@ppionline.org
