A lot has happened since the last time I checked in here (Dec. 2010-guess I'm not much for blogging), and the best part is that all 4 goals I listed then have been met, and a full-on city-wide early reading campaign has been underway since May, 2011. The Holyoke School Committee set an ambitious, urgent goal: 85% of all 3rd graders will be proficient readers by 2014. Since we did so, we have learned a lot about what works and doesn't, where the schools need improvement and what they already do well do well, where to get the data we need. I hope to explain in detail in the future.
A good starting point is a publication, "Turning the Page", Its one of the best resources for early reading practices I've seen:
http://www.strategiesforchildren.org/3research/10_TurningThePageReport.pdf
It guides our campaign. If you care about improving public education in the cities, take the time to read this carefully.
We are not doing this alone! Holyoke is now part of a statewide network formed this summer at a national conference in Denver. Hopefully, this partnership with grade level reading campaign leaders in Boston, Worcester, Springfield and Pittsfield to move policy and resources into successful early reading practices at the state and local level. All five communities are also part of a national campaign with 124 communities across America working with the Campaign for Grade Level Reading:
http://www.gradelevelreading.net/
School starts next week, September is around the corner, and important milestones are coming.
Last spring's MCAS results will be released in September. The 3rd Grade English Language Arts scores are an important early sign of how well Holyoke's 85% Reading Goal is taking root.
Also in September, the Mayor will announce the appointment of Holyoke's community literacy coordinator; a person who will work full time to help every family of Holyoke's children age birth - 9 in the city of Holyoke knows how to have children ready and able to succeed in school. If we are going to succeed, connecting directly with families is essential.
