Literacy and Equity in the 21st Century: How Evidence-Based Instructional Practices Can Raise Literacy Achievement for All Students in Maryland

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The University of Maryland College of Education, in partnership with Morgan State University, the University of Maryland School of Public Policy and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) of Maryland, is hosting its 2nd Annual Literacy and Equity in the 21st Century Summit. 

A sequel to the January 2021 summit, the Fearless Conversations II Literacy and Equity in the 21st Century: How Evidence-Based Instructional Practices Can Raise Literacy Achievement for All Students in Maryland is a one-day virtual summit that brings together government and community stakeholders to

  • provide a deeper understanding of evidence-based literacy practices that advance achievement, particularly for the most vulnerable learners,
  • align knowledge and practice standards with the established reading science, and
  • develop actionable solutions to improve student reading outcomes through innovative approaches to increase educator access to professional development.  

WATCH LIVE beginning Thursday, May 26 at 8:00 a.m. 

Welcome Remarks

Keynote Speaker

  • Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, President, Valley Speech Language and Learning Center; Research Associate Professor, Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics at the University of Houston

Featured Panelists

Agenda

8:15 -
8:30 a.m.

Introductory Messages
Glenda Prime, Ph.D., Dean of School of Education &  Urban Studies, Morgan State University

Laura Stapleton, Ph.D., Interim Dean, College of Education, University of Maryland, College Park

8:30 -
9:15 a.m.

Keynote:  “Bridges to Literacy for English Learners”
Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan
President, Valley Speech Language and Learning Center; Research Associate Professor, Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics at the University of Houston

9:15 -
10:45 a.m.

Panel 1: Evidence-Based Practices for Teaching Historically Underserved Students to Read

Moderator: Dr. Joan Mele-McCarthy, Member, Maryland State Board of Education

Dr. Nancy Nelson, National Center for Improving Literacy (NCIL), What is the Science of Reading?

Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Literacy & English Language Learners

Dr. Inte’A DeShields, Morgan State University, Literacy & Children of Color

Dr. Rachel Romeo, College of Education, University of Maryland, Literacy & Poverty

Ben Shiffrin, Jemicy School, Literacy & Learning Disabilities

Dr. Kelli Cummings, College of Education, University of Maryland, Multi-tiered System of Support for Reading

10:45 -
10:50 a.m.

Break

10:50 -
11:15 a.m.

Moderated Break Out Rooms 

11:15 -
11:45 a.m.

Introduction of Panel 2:  Building Vibrant & Literate Communities

Willie Flowers, President, NAACP Maryland Branch

11:15 -
11:45 a.m.

Panel 2: Building Vibrant & Literate Communities 

ModeratorWinifred A. Winston, Founder of Dyslexia Advocation, Inc.

Nora Morales, Program Director, Identity, Inc.

Lauren Stouten, Decoding Dyslexia Maryland

Willie Flowers, President, NAACP Maryland Branch

Marla Posey-Moss, President,  Free State PTA

11:45 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.

Lunch/Break

12:20 -
12:35 p.m.

Introductory Messages

Nina Harris, Ed.D., Associate Dean, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland, College Park

Clarence Crawford, President, Maryland State Board of Education

12:35 -
2:35 p.m.

Panel 3: Busting the Myth that Black and Brown Children Can’t Read (And Poor and Learning Disabled Children too!)

Moderator: Curtis Valentine, Progressive Policy Institute, Co-Director, Reinventing America’s Schools

12:35 -
1:35 p.m.

Part 1:  Lessons for Teacher Preparation and Professional Development: The Science of Reading in Action

Simone Gibson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Education & Urban Studies, Morgan State University Teacher Prep, HBCU Perspective

Monica McHale-Small, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, Temple University, School District Changes

Phelton C. Moss Ph.D., Sr. Professorial Lecturer, American University, Developing & Retaining Educator Talent

John Bennetts, formerly with Rhode Island Department of Education, Transforming Teacher Practices Schoolwide

Kari Kurto, National Science of Reading Project Director, The Reading League, Professional Learning Community

1:35 -
2:35 p.m.

Part 2: Lessons for Our Schools: The Science of Reading in Action

The role of the state department of education:
Dr. Deann Collins, Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, MD State Dept of Education

English Language Learner Workgroup:
Dr. Drew Fagan

Teacher Perspective/Choosing Curriculum and Intervention: 

Rhea Espedido Graham, Baltimore City Public Schools

Camille Johnson, Prince George's County Public Schools 

Principal Perspective:
Kelly O’Connell and Brian Powell, Baltimore County Public Schools 

System Administrator Perspective:  

Heather Boles, Baltimore City Schools

Melaika Brown, Montgomery County Public Schools

Simone McQuaige, Prince George's County Public Schools

2:35 -
3:30 p.m.

Panel 4: Shaping Reading & Literacy Policy to Avoid Pitfalls & Benefit Student Outcomes

 

Moderator: Kymyona Burke, ExcelinEd

Eric Luedtke, House Ways and Means Committee, Majority Leader

Delegate Jared Solomon, House Appropriations Committee

John Woolums, Maryland Association of Boards of Education; Education Lobbyist

3:30 p.m.

Conclusion

>3:30 p.m.

Implementation and Policy Breakout Rooms/Next Steps

This event is sponsored by The Reading League of Maryland and Maryland READS. 

For more information, please contact Donald J. Bolger, associate professor, at djbolger@umd.edu