9/8/2024

Bringing the Science of Reading to Secondary Schools

Challenge: Across the district, a majority of middle and high school students are reading below grade level. 

Solution: Lexia® Aspire Professional Learning and Lexia® PowerUp Literacy®

As director of multi-tiered systems of support at Friendship Public Charter Schools in the Washington, D.C., area., Tiffany Goodman is passionate about literacy. 

But when Goodman started at Friendship in 2023, in the aftermath of the pandemic, the majority of middle and high school students were reading below grade level. Her solution involved getting teacher buy-in on the science of reading, across all secondary schools. 

“When I think about the students, it starts with the teachers. We have to provide them with targeted professional development. I believe that Lexia Aspire is providing that quality professional development that’s needed for our scholars and our teachers in order for the teachers to then go into the classroom and deliver high-quality instruction that moves reading outcomes,” Goodman said.

Based on the science of reading, Aspire is designed to meet the needs of all educators teaching students in grades 4–8, from the content-area and classroom educators to interventionists and ELA educators.

“Lexia Aspire is just amazing. It directly aligns to the goals we have in the district for the science of reading—it exceeded our expectations,” Goodman said. 

See what she has to say about implementing Lexia Aspire alongside Lexia PowerUp in all secondary schools.