5/22/2024

Illinois Illuminated: Reading Revolution in The Land of Lincoln

Illinois’ newest legislation comes from a movement that has upended popular opinion in favor of evidence-based instruction barely used in most Illinois public schools. Read on for three must-know takeaways and discover Chicago’s shining example of theory in practice.

Some say it all started in 2022. Students returned to classrooms after the pandemic, and learning gaps became indisputable. The youngest Illinois students scored below grade levels and stumbled over basic skills like sounding out standard letter combinations. But educators and parents argued students had long been losing literacy ground and called for reform. “To be able to learn to read, you have to have those foundational skills, including understanding how the structure of language works,” said Elsa Ca´rdenas-Hagan, a literacy advocate and bilingual speech-language pathologist quoted in Chalkbeat.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) reports 38% of the state’s fourth grade students have below-basic reading skills, with 67% falling below the proficient level. The trend persists through eighth and 12th grades with minimal improvement statewide seen in decades. But in reality, this reading deficit is endemic nationally and has sparked a growing movement to embrace gold-standard research. Mississippi’s undeniable pivot in 2019 proved the power of research-based instruction, causing 37 states—and now Illinois—to change curriculum, retrain educators, and update standard practices.

The new Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan, released in January, is meant to be a springboard for reform so “every learner, no matter where they reside,” gains equal access to “the literacy skills necessary for lifetime success,” said Erica Thieman, director of standards and instruction for the Illinois State Board of Education. This means: All students will receive the same high-quality instruction, all educators will receive training for research-backed instruction, and educational leaders will have the flexibility and charter to ensure success.

The Most Effective and Least Used Approach in Illinois

Like 72% of American educators nationally, many in Illinois approached learning to read as a natural process. It was expected that if students were surrounded by literature and simply encouraged, they would eventually learn to read through context, language exposure, and guided support. Experts now claim this approach fails to teach the majority of students effectively.

As Education Week recently reported, studies show explicit, systematic instruction “is the most effective way to teach kids how to read words. Teaching students to rely on other clues, like pictures, takes their focus away from letters. And restricting students to books deemed ‘at their level’ can actually widen achievement gaps.”

The new Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan embraces this evidence-based thinking, tapping into a large body of research identifying exactly how the human brain learns to read and how to best teach reading in the classroom. ISBE emphasizes the Simple View of Reading, a theory that maintains learning to read is an equation: decoding written words x language comprehension = reading comprehension (Gough & Tunmer, 1986; Hoover & Gough 1990). Experts contend both skills must be developed amply to establish strong reading comprehension abilities. The multiplication sign is critical because a deficit in one skill could result in overall reading failure.

Simple View of Reading

In the plan, ISBE also explains learning to read can’t rely only on one element, like phonics. Instruction must include seven essential components of literacy: oracy, phonological awareness, word recognition, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing.

Becoming versed in this body of literacy science will benefit both educators and administrators because it directly affects how reading will be taught going forward.

Does Theory Work In Practice? Proof in Chicago.

It’s one thing to discuss theory and research; it’s another to step up outcomes. More than a decade ago, Chicago’s Monarcas Academy, (previously Enrico Tonti Elementary School), implemented similar research-aligned teaching strategies. It coupled skilled instruction with a data-driven and evidence-based program. During the 2021-2022 school year, 80% of students who started the year working below grade level advanced at least one grade level. “Our teachers absolutely love it,” said Jennifer O’Sullivan, lead coach and literacy coordinator. They are all “accustomed to being able to look at the data and then use those insights” to inform instruction, she said. Educators and district leaders can assess and address student gaps in real time so students “can get on the path to becoming fluent readers,” said O’Sullivan.

Alternatively, Maurice Swinney, a former Chicago Public Schools administrator told Chalkbeat about a very different experience in 2022 when he tried to help his high school students read at grade level without access to research-aligned programs. “One of the missed opportunities that I had looking back was not focusing on how the brain takes in information in order to create a reading schema. Meaning, when you start to see these words all the time you know what they mean,” Swinney said. “I think it is important for classroom teachers to become scientists to understand how the brain works.”

3 Takeaways Every Prairie State Educator Should Know

Now, Illinois district leaders must root their reading curriculum in evidence-based, high-quality instruction to ensure students have the best chance at success. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders explained the plan is designed to help practitioners take stock and better align with the evidence. “We have a moral imperative to ensure all students develop strong literacy skills,” he said.

What does ISBE designate as high quality? A rubric will be provided in July, but there are three essential takeaways for implementing high-quality reading instruction leaders can learn now. Here’s what to know:

1. Teachers are Pivotal
   Before anything else, practitioners must have proper education about how the brain learns to read. Teachers are the backbone to student success. Ironically, reports indicate about half of academic institutions adequately prepare educators for teaching reading. Qualified training should prime teachers to best assess students' needs, differentiate instruction, and accelerate learning. Ideally, administrators and educators walk away fully understanding the "why" and "how" behind effective reading instruction to know "what" to teach. Any program used should keep teachers at the center.
2. Evidence-Based Instruction and the Tiers of Evidence
   Ensure educational programs and strategies are backed by evidence, not just theory. Instruction should be grounded in research, validated through a “spectrum of studies,” and dynamic—that’s ever-evolving and adaptable. What exactly does it mean to be proven? Administrators can rely on ESSA Ratings: A four-tiered evaluation method outlined by the U.S. Department of Education. Read this brief overview.
3. Explicit and Systematic Instructional Methods
   Information should be taught through explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction, and adapted to fit every student level. Consider these questions when analyzing current teaching methods: Do they encourage students to participate and engage in discussion? Is there a planned Scope and Sequence, so students progress from beginning to advanced concepts? What does equitable implementation look like across all student populations? Does the program or curriculum you use scaffold so every learner can access the information and progress at their best pace?

What's Next?

Literacy advocates are championing plan enhancements and budget increases beyond the 2025 recommendations. As things progress, district and school leadership must stay on top of all the latest developments. You can rely on strong partners and resources to stay informed, including this quick-glance timeline. Check back for more posts exploring how to align with the plan’s future guidelines. 

Discover how Lexia® can help Illinois embrace this journey and make literacy possible for all.