On Thursday, December 9, 2021, LINC staff were proud to participate in a virtual Literacy Summit hosted by the New York City Department of Education (DOE), in collaboration with Advocates for Children of New York and the ARISE Coalition.
This Literacy Summit brought together diverse stakeholders, both within and outside the DOE, to strengthen their efforts to advance equitable literacy and pursue education justice. Respected thought leaders in the field like Lacey Robinson, CEO of UnboundEd, and Chancellor Porter explored current challenges in literacy and spoke of solutions that are diverse, evidence-based, and culturally relevant.
Equity begins with early literacy, and it’s time to talk about changing the educational environment before formal education begins.
“The notion that reading should only be taught through the third grade is antiquated and harmful, especially in the midst of a pandemic,” Dr. Julie Washington.
Furthermore, the data used to create screening tools can be biased against different groups of students and prevent them from achieving their potential. Educators must have the flexibility to evaluate what teaching structures are not working and the autonomy to change their teaching methods using effective and proven evidence-based approaches. Teachers and school support staff need more training, time, and resources to support early literacy development.
It takes a village to overcome barriers to literacy. LINC has been a pioneer in community-driven literacy, working to resolve the literacy crisis in New York City for 25 years. We know that illiteracy is preventable and solvable.
Building early literacy skills like oral language and sound processing from ages 0-5 is critical to a child’s future success in school and in life. Equitable literacy is essential for democracy and we have a shared responsibility to protect it.
Join LINC in the pursuit of education justice and sign the call to collective action to reach every reader. Every student in New York City deserves the chance to learn to read, no matter the school they attend or the neighborhood they call home.
For more information on the 2021 Literacy Summit, download these resources:
Comments