by Martina Barbour, Literacy Director
On March 23rd, I had the privilege of attending the PA Literacy Summit and Day of Action in Harrisburg. The Summit was organized by the PA Literacy Coalition and brought together organizations from across the state to advance the agenda of literacy accessibility and funding. Framing access to literacy as an economic issue and a health issue really broadened the scope of participation and activism.
It was an empowering event that included speakers, meetings with legislators, a rally, and a variety of action items. I was also thrilled to be joined by Historic Fair Hill Reading Buddy Linda Ciccotelli, a champion for literacy and a dedicated volunteer who shows up to read and garden with Kindergarteners in our partner school every week!
Last year, the PA Literacy Coalition worked to get Act 47 passed, which allocates funds for implementing the science of reading in curriculum, training for teachers, reading screening for kids 3 times per year, and strategy plans for struggling readers. While getting a bill passed is a big deal, implementing and making sure funds are used appropriately is the next big hurdle! Participants of the summit wrote and met with our legislators about the importance of ensuring that funding is used meaningfully and appropriately, and that the momentum of this moment is kept alive.
“This is a huge and meaningful step forward for Pennsylvania,” said Rachael Garnick, Pennsylvania Coalition manager for Teach Plus, on behalf of the Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition. “By naming the science of reading as a required component of licensure assessments, the State Board is signaling that evidence-based instruction is not optional—it is foundational to teaching.”
Keynote speakers included Dr. Kymyona Burk, former State Literacy Director from Mississippi, who gave a motivating speech about the effectiveness of implementing the science of reading into Mississippi schools (now coined the “Mississippi Miracle”), and how other states are following suit.
Deon Butler, former NFL player, spoke about his journey with illiteracy and the empowerment that learning to read gave him and changed his life. There was also a panel discussion led by educators from across Pennsylvania that discussed what worked and didn’t work in regards to literacy in their school districts.
To read more about the Summit, you can visit the Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition’s website at paliteracy.org, or read this article in the Philadelphia Citizen. You can also reach out to find out to us to find out how you can get involved in our literacy work in Fairhill.
