The Virginia Board of Education Thursday approved an initial list of research-based core instructional programs for grades K-3 to align early elementary literacy instruction with research on how students best learn to read and write. The implementation of the programs is a key component of the Virginia Literacy Act, a comprehensive law passed by the 2022 General Assembly and signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin to boost literacy outcomes for all students.
“I believe that the Board of Education’s vote to approve these research-based literacy programs will prove to be one of the most consequential actions of my seven years on the board,” Board President Dan Gecker said. “The Virginia Literacy Act reflects the consensus of experts on what constitutes effective reading and literacy instruction and how teachers should be prepared. The adoption of these programs is a major milestone in the implementation of the act, and I believe it will lead to improved outcomes for thousands of Virginia students in reading and across the curriculum.”
The act directs the Virginia Department of Education to conduct an ongoing review and adoption process that will ultimately result in a state board-approved list of research-based instructional programs for grades K-8. VDOE will also support school divisions with tools, resources, technical assistance and funding to implement the law.
“Every child in Virginia is capable of reading and writing proficiently, and Virginia has a comprehensive plan to ensure that is possible, thanks to the Virginia Literacy Act,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons said. “A key element of the Virginia Literacy Act is equipping every classroom with research-based instructional materials that embrace strong literacy research and serve all students. We’re proud the programs approved today were reviewed by Virginia educators, for Virginia educators, and we look forward to continuing to partner with those closest to students–teachers and families–to achieve success.”
School divisions will review the approved list and select programs that best meet the needs of their students. The VLA requires divisions to implement approved research-based programs by 2024-2025.
Beginning this summer, reading specialists will receive training on science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy practices to facilitate the implementation of the core instructional programs. The training will expand to principals and teachers in summer 2024. Families will also receive resources to support their children’s reading and writing at home.
“Learning to read is a basic and essential human right. Every child deserves access to evidence-based, research-aligned reading and writing instruction and materials that will allow them to reach their full potential, just as every teacher deserves the tools and training to make that instruction happen,” said Sarah Woods, assistant principal and dyslexia advisor at Eastern Elementary/Middle School in Giles County. “Today’s approval by Virginia’s Board of Education is an important and exciting first step to ensuring that all students in the Commonwealth are provided the capacity to access information which will allow for meaningful participation in society.”
“America’s public education system has strayed from the reading research and evidence for decades. This resulted in years of stagnant reading levels for all students and ultimately failed most students struggling to read or at risk for a reading disability,” said Kristin Kane, founding member of Decoding Dyslexia Virginia, a parent-led nonprofit organization that raises awareness, provides resources and advocates for the dyslexia community. “It’s encouraging to know that in Virginia, we have begun to prioritize reading with comprehensive policy change and funding to support it. The hope is that every public-school student, in every corner of the state, will be taught with a curriculum that is high quality, evidence-based, and truly accessible. It’s also empowering to know the policy intends for families to be involved every step of the way.”
The approved core instructional programs were selected following an extensive review by Virginia educators, including administrators, reading specialists and teachers from across the state. Approved programs were required to meet a strict set of criteria to ensure they consist of evidence-based literacy instruction, aligned with science-based reading research, and correlate with the Board of Education’s English Standards of Learning.
“Today, in Virginia and across the nation, too few students are meeting reading and writing benchmarks by third grade, leading to long-term academic and social setbacks. This was true before the pandemic and has only since been exacerbated,” said Del. Carrie Coyner, who sponsored the Virginia Literacy Act in the House of Delegates. “Virginia has put into place one of the country’s most comprehensive plans to improve literacy outcomes for all students. Today’s approval of the core instructional program list is a critical milestone in that effort and signals our state’s ongoing commitment and momentum.”
“Our K-3 educators play an essential role in helping children learn to read. Ensuring that Virginia educators have the resources necessary to teach all children to read is a primary goal of the Virginia Literacy Act,” noted Sen. Louise Lucas, who sponsored the Virginia Literacy Act in the Senate. “We are excited that the board’s actions today will help put high quality instructional resources in educators’ hands while also ensuring that our school divisions can choose the resources that best meet the unique needs of their educators, families and students.”
The next review cycle will evaluate core instructional programming for kindergarten through fifth grade, as well as intervention and supplemental programs to help students who have reading and writing difficulties in kindergarten through eighth grade.
