Building a sustainable school-wide adolescent literacy model in middle schools: Guidance for administrators

Abstract

It is essential for middle school leaders to develop and promote school-wide literacy models, organizational structures that have a significant impact on the learning environment for all students in their building. However, school-wide literacy models can be difficult to implement and sustain over time. Drawing from an Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) funded model demonstration project, PACT Plus, we provide a set of action steps for committed leaders to consider when initially adopting practices for a school-wide literacy model and to help leaders create a shared vision that promotes the implementation and sustainability of practices over time. In this article, we review the importance of using students’ data to choose evidence-based literacy practices. We also provide guidance on how middle school leaders can encourage the adoption and use of these practices, so teachers implement the practices with high levels of fidelity of implementation.

Keywords:

• Administrators
• adolescent
• evidence-based practices
• school-wide literacy model

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education, through Grant H326M150016, Adolescent Literacy Model for Students with Disabilities: Improving Instruction and Intervention to Enhance Reading to The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Maryland.

Notes on contributors

Jade Wexler

Jade Wexler, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Special Education at The University of Maryland, College Park, MD. Email: [email protected]

Elizabeth Swanson

Elizabeth Swanson, Ph.D., is a Research Associate Professor at The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX. Email: [email protected]

Sharon Vaughn

Sharon Vaughn, Ph.D., is a Professor of Special Education at The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX. Email: [email protected]

Alexandra Shelton

Alexandra Shelton, M.S., is a Ph.D. candidate in Special Education at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. Email: [email protected]

Leigh Ann Kurz

Leigh Ann Kurz, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Susquehanna University, College Park, MD. Email: [email protected]