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The recent shift in literacy education is making an impact in classrooms, but progress can stall when new teachers and leaders arrive. Administrators might have their own ideas as to how to shape a literacy initiative. Teachers might feel lost trying to learn everything about their new school. During the edLeader Panel “Leading Literacy Through Change: How District Leaders Sustain Momentum and Accelerate Outcomes,” district leaders and literacy experts offered their strategies for keeping literacy programs on track.

8 Key Tips for Successful Literacy Programs

1. Ground your program in best practices.

Instead of focusing on the name of the instructional resource, think about what best practices you want to instill in your classrooms. Don’t let curricular resources dictate how your teachers teach. Choose high-quality instructional materials that will help you fulfill your district’s goals.

2. Focus on codifying the program.

Teacher turnover is a reality. New hires—and especially those new to teaching—should be able to walk in and see the literacy program mapped out for the year. This includes not only having high-quality instructional materials but also a plan for how they are used. In addition, you should have bite-sized training scheduled that can be adjusted to meet their needs. In other words, the program should be plug-and-play so that the teachers can focus on strong implementation and working with students.

3. Develop in-house literacy coaches.

First, teachers often leave because they don’t see a path to advancement. Moreover, educators often respond better to colleagues who are working in the trenches with them on the program. Having on-site literacy coaches allows for consistent observation and real-time feedback as well as giving staff opportunities to grow into leadership positions (and earn more).

4. Embed professional development throughout the year.

Obviously, this can’t be one-and-done, but teachers also shouldn’t be expected to cram PD into their planning time or have to stay after school. Build focused training sessions into the school week that value teacher time and don’t take away from student instruction. Furthermore, make sure they can access mentors and literacy coaches as needed, so they are continually advancing their skills.

5. Expect principals to be instructional leaders.

Principals should lead the instructional focus on campus. And while each principal’s literacy background and experience may vary, they need to provide meaningful feedback on all aspects, from the structure of the program to teacher implementation. District leaders should provide monthly literacy professional development for principals as well as finding places to include smaller doses of learning.

6. Engage district leaders in all aspects of the program.

It’s not enough for the administration to know about the literacy initiative. They need to understand what the priorities are, how it works, and what success looks like. Include discussions about literacy at monthly meetings, provide frequent progress updates, and make sure they can talk about the goals and metrics with confidence.

7. Base priorities on the strategic plan, and don’t keep shifting them.

Literacy programs should be grounded in the district’s strategic plan. This ensures both high-level support and funding, as well as giving leaders the authority to make decisions as needed to boost the program. Also, since consistency is key to long-term success, these priorities shouldn’t change from year to year. Adjustments should be made as needed, but the overall foundation should remain.

8. Make data-driven decisions.

Most importantly, make sure everything about the literacy program is based on what you know about your students and what they need to succeed. Monitor how well each aspect of the program is working and base changes on student and teacher needs.

Teachers and administrators must have the time to focus on literacy. District leaders are always faced with conflicting priorities, so where to begin? The panelists advocated for narrowing down those priorities, possibly even to three, and keeping those front and center. Teacher fatigue comes from fragmented work. Begin with a gap analysis, figure out what’s needed that aligns with your main priorities, and get rid of the rest.

Learn more about this edWeb broadcast, Leading Literacy Through Change: How District Leaders Sustain Momentum and Accelerate Outcomes, sponsored by Really Great Reading.

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Article by Stacey Pusey, based on this edLeader Panel