Tucked into the weekly email to MPS parents was this update on the budget. A couple of thoughts… 🧵

What if literacy held the key to justice? Join me in Chicago for my keynote, The Weight of Our Calling, as we uncover the urgent connection between reading proficiency and justice. #RegisterToday #BookHotel www.thereadingleague.org/conference/

“ALL IN” is the name of the documentary produced by St. Paul Public Schools where they name the reading crisis for what it is and share from the perspective of all stakeholders a deep and heart-felt examination of how their district is transforming literacy instruction for the better. 1/

“ALL IN” is the name of the documentary produced by St. Paul Public Schools where they name the reading crisis for what it is and share from the perspective of all stakeholders a deep and heart-felt examination of how their district is transforming literacy instruction for the better. 1/

For some students, going to school when you are unable to read, is frequent and repetitive trauma. #SteveDykstra #Dyslexia #RightToRead

My district’s Special Education dept is being audited by a national org this week, including days of interviews with relevant stakeholder groups. Not surprised to hear there were no planned interviews with disabled adults who had received services. There are now.

“The lawsuit alleges that the defendants falsely marketed their literacy products as “research-backed” & “data-based,” failed to “warn” consumers that the products lacked sufficient phonics instruction & continued to sell those products when they were inadequate.” www.apmreports.org/story/2024/1...

Reading recovery: a longitudinal meta-analysis link.springer.com/article/10.1...

“A product-liability case reaches beyond the secrecy of parents doing this over and over.” A new class-action lawsuit alleges that Heinemann and three of its top authors - Lucy Calkins and Fountas&Pinnell - promoted “deceptive” and “defective” products. www.apmreports.org/story/2024/1...

A little work thread 🧵 Last spring, Minneapolis Public Schools faced a $100M+ budget deficit just as it brought in a new superintendent. I submitted a records request for documents given to the superintendent when she started. This is what I found out… www.mplsschoolsvoices.news/posts/distri...

This is a concise, useful piece about cuts recommended last year v those actually made. Which might be a peek into what *could* be back on the table this coming year? Observations: After spending the legal minimum % of its federal COVID $ on academic recovery... 1/

As MPS’ ability to continue funding operations out of reserves ends, difficult decisions are being made. Class sizes being raised this year to “cap” under MFT contract was one such decision. @mwhitler.bsky.social www.mplsschoolsvoices.news/posts/distri...

Have you ever heard of a school system making a documentary about why it's changing the way it teaches reading? www.spps.org/academics/te...