6/10/2024

Building Stakeholder Buy-In for the Science of Reading: A Guide for District Administrators

As districts nationwide transition to science-based reading instruction, your role as a district administrator is pivotal. You are not just implementing these changes but also playing a crucial part in helping parents, guardians, and community members understand the reasons behind this shift and how it will enhance student learning. Your grasp of these benefits and effective communication are key to successfully implementing the science of reading.

As a district leader, you have the power to serve as the spokesperson and ambassador for these evidence-based literacy initiatives. You are not just implementing changes but leading the way in this transition. You can confidently guide your district through this transformative journey by grasping the fundamental tenets of the science of reading and the language and resources to convey the rationale, research, and benefits behind it all.

Why District Administrators Should Understand the Science of Reading

There are several essential reasons why district administrators should develop a deep understanding of the science of reading:

Stakeholder Buy-In

Garnering buy-in and support from parents, school boards, teacher unions, and the broader community is critical for successfully implementing any major district initiative. As one of the faces of the district, administrators will likely field questions and concerns about pivoting away from past instructional approaches. Being well-versed allows you to address those inquiries knowledgeably and with confidence.

Serving as the District's Spokesperson

Administrators will be considered the authoritative voice communicating about the science of reading shifts. You'll need to clearly articulate what it is, why it's being adopted based on decades of scientific research, and how it will improve core reading instruction and student outcomes.

Understanding Building-Level Needs Across the District

To properly support and oversee school implementation, it is crucial for administrators to intimately understand the professional development demands, required resources and materials, scheduling structures, and curricular changes that science of reading instruction entails. This understanding is beneficial and a responsibility that you, as a district administrator, must fulfill to ensure the success of the science of reading adoption.

Selecting an Implementation Partner

Collaborating with an external partner can provide administrators with established coaching strategies and supplemental resources. Administrators who have a comprehensive understanding of the science of reading are uniquely positioned to select the most suitable implementation partner, a decision that can significantly impact the success of the adoption.

Where to Communicate About the Science of Reading

District Website

Leverage the "About" or "Curriculum & Instruction" section of the district website to provide an overview of the science of reading, why it's being implemented, how it differs from past approaches, and what parents/community members can expect to see.

Board Meetings

Board of education and school committee meetings are the perfect forum for in-depth discussions, fielding questions, and sharing updates about the science of reading adoption. Thorough explanations will foster transparency and trust.

Building Websites

Ensure each school's website has clear, consistent messaging about the science of reading standards and curricula being used. You want everyone to have easy access to information, creating a transparent approach to educating stakeholders.

Letters and Emails

Direct communications, such as letters and emails to parents, ensure all families receive the key points and rationale surrounding the science of reading transition. This ensures stakeholders who rarely engage in other communication channels can learn about and understand the science of reading.

Personalize a Science of Reading Template for Your Communications

To simplify the creation of the science of reading messaging and content for these various channels, district leaders can use a template covering the core elements:

What is the Science of Reading?

At its core, the science of reading is an evidence-based approach to teaching reading informed by decades of scientific research about how the human brain learns to read. Key focus areas include:

• Explicit, systematic phonics instruction to build decoding and word-recognition skills
• Teaching phonemic awareness to identify and manipulate sounds in words
• Building fluency through ample reading practice with feedback
• Incorporating vocabulary and comprehension strategies

Why Are We Making This Instructional Shift?

Here is a more concise summary of the key reasons driving the move to science of reading-based instruction:

1. Alignment with research about how the brain learns to read: The science of reading is grounded in extensive research from neuroscientists, psychologists, and linguists. This research reveals the cognitive processes involved in successful reading acquisition.
2. Past approaches yielded inadequate reading proficiency: As evidenced by national and international assessment data, traditional reading instruction methods, like whole language, have yet to consistently produce desired reading achievement levels across diverse student populations.
3. Proven effectiveness: Numerous studies have demonstrated the success of Structured Literacy instruction based on the science of reading. This includes explicit and systematic teaching of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension strategies. It's simply the best way to teach children to read.
4. Equity and access:The science of reading provides a research-based framework for delivering high-quality reading instruction to all students, regardless of background or learning needs, promoting educational equity, and closing achievement gaps.

The move toward the science of reading aims to align classroom practices with scientific evidence, address shortcomings of past approaches, and ensure all students receive effective reading instruction for long-term academic success.

What Should Parents/the Community Expect With This Change?

Summarize some of the differences parents and the community may notice, such as:

• More emphasis on phonics and direct instruction of skills vs. whole language
• Use of decodable texts for reading practice focused on phonics patterns being taught
• Potential changes to core literacy curricula and supplemental programs
• Additional training and professional development for teachers

Provide Resources for Learning More

Include links to authoritative sites with additional details about the science of reading, such as:

• Evidence-Based: Does the Science of Reading Work?
• What, Why, and How: The Science of Learning to Read
• The Science of Reading vs. Balanced Literacy

The science of reading represents a pivotal paradigm shift in literacy instruction. District administrators can generate stakeholder support and lay the groundwork for successful rollout and implementation by fully understanding its basis and articulating a clear rationale for its adoption, igniting enthusiasm among stakeholders.

We're Here to Support the Science of Reading Adoption

At Lexia®, we are committed to supporting you in every step of the science of reading adoption process. Our Success Partnerships initiative is designed to provide you with customized guidance, coaching, training, and professional learning opportunities. We are not just ready but eager to collaborate with you on effectively implementing the science of reading in your schools, ensuring you have the support and resources you need for a successful transition.