Videos: Symposiums

Impact happens when evidence meets implementation with rigor, equity, and urgency. Pat Roberts and Nancy Blair highlight AIM’s research-to-practice and practice-to-research partnerships and how districts nationwide use AIM to drive real gains in student reading achievement.

AIM was founded on the belief that research should guide practice and that practitioners’ questions should inform research. Nancy Hennessy reflects on how AIM has expanded access to knowledge and helped transform literacy education nationwide.

Teaching requires critical use of programs and differentiation to meet student needs. Drs. Katie Pace Miles, Pam Kastner, and Renata Archie discuss orthographic mapping and phase theory, highlighting common terminology, data-based decisions, and integrated instruction to build fluent word recognition.

Lasting literacy progress requires collective action. Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, MeQuel Bolden, Nancy Hennessy, and Kristen Wynn call for stronger collaboration and coherent, connected reading and writing systems that protect teachers’ limited time.

Universal screening data offers educators a view into how many students are meeting expectations and indicates early risk. Contribute to the 2026 shared initiative for early reading improvement.

Pennsylvania is at a turning point as district leaders begin to implement the state's structured literacy legislative requirements. A panel of leaders reflects on early implementation efforts, tensions between mandate and practice, and lessons emerging from states further along in literacy reform.

Reading gaps that persist into adolescence limit students' access to complex text, content learning, and long-term success. A leadership panel shares experience with literacy improvement at the secondary level, highlighting professional learning and leadership to support success.

Starting in early childhood, caregivers play a powerful role in children’s social, cognitive, and early learning development. FathersRead365 co-founder Brent Johnstone shares how a citywide movement can build early literacy skills for young learners.

Literacy gains in Brownsville show what’s possible when evidence-based training meets strong leadership and sustained educator commitment. Drs. Khalek Kirkland and Monica Covington-Cradle explain how evidence-based professional learning and collaborative leadership are driving meaningful change in District 23.

Strong literacy outcomes start with strong leadership. This piece unpacks ten essentials every administrator should know and shows how informed, intentional leadership transforms instruction, empowers teachers, and drives student success.