The Maryland Initiative for Literacy & Equity (MILE)

LTL Learning Series

Project Overview 

MILE’s Literacy Teacher Leaders (LTL) Learning Series strengthens district capacity for evidence-aligned literacy instruction. The initiative focuses on developing teacher leaders who can apply the Science of Reading and the Science of Learning in their own classrooms and serve as instructional resources within their schools. The series supports LEAs’ commitments to improving literacy outcomes through coherent, research‑based professional learning.

 

Core Objective

The LTL Learning Series builds teacher leaders’ conceptual understanding of reading development, including phonological awareness, decoding, language comprehension, and knowledge acquisition. The professional learning series also gives teacher leaders an opportunity to apply cognitive science principles to literacy instruction. The MILE LTL Learning Series prepares teacher leaders to facilitate school‑based professional learning, model instructional routines, and support colleagues in implementing evidence‑aligned practices.

 

Significance 

With the LTL Learning Series, MILE intends to: 

  • Increase precision in applying evidence‑aligned reading practices
  • Build teachers' capacity to support colleagues through modeling, feedback, and collaborative planning
  • Improve use of formative assessment to guide instructional adjustments
  • Enhance ability to lead sustained professional learning cycles focused on literacy improvement 
  • Improve teacher planning and instructional effectiveness in order to increase student academic performance 

Design & Implementation 

By developing teacher leaders who can both implement and support evidence‑aligned practices, districts are building durable instructional capacity that extends beyond individual classrooms. The initiative reflects MILE’s commitment to helping districts translate research into practice through rigorous, collaborative professional learning. MILE works to customize this series to meet capacity needs and contexts of the individual partner districts. Click on the tab below to learn more about our Learning Series Partnership in Prince George's County Public Schools!

During the 2025-2026 school year, more than thirty first-grade teacher leaders in PGCPS completed seven in-person and virtual sessions supporting their year-long focus on small-group instruction, culminating in virtual data presentations centered on their students' academic growth in reading. Teacher leaders in the program reported: 

  • Increased confidence in communicating with families about ways to support literacy at home and in planning a family event or activity that promotes a literacy-based skill 
  • Satisfaction with the programming, as well as found MILE team members to be relatable and very knowledgeable about the subject matter 
  • The series was valuable and participants walked away with new strategies to implement in their classrooms 

For the 2026-2027 school year, MILE and PGCPS teacher leaders will again explore how the Science of Reading and the Science of Learning improve instructional effectiveness, with last year's leaders returning as peer mentors for the new cohort.