I was honored to accept an Eddie on behalf of my @NCTQ team for our collaboration with the Massachusetts Literacy Coalition at #PIESummit24 last week! @PIEnetwork @ExcelinEd @NationalParents (NPU-MA) @teachplusMA @DFERmass @EdTrust 🏆 As a longtime Massachusetts resident and former ed policymaker for the state, I know the stakes of our literacy crisis firsthand. Our 2023 reading scores painted a sobering picture of literacy among Massachusetts students: Only two in five third-graders met or exceeded expectations on the English language arts MCAS exam. The scores were even more alarming for the state’s historically disadvantaged students. Considering that about half of Massachusetts schools use a reading curriculum that doesn’t align with the science of how children learn to read, it’s clear we have our work cut out for us. Fixing this problem will require getting high-quality reading materials in schools, supporting teachers to implement them, and equipping teachers with the skills they need to help students become strong readers. Together, the coalition’s advocacy helped secure millions of state and federal dollars for high-quality reading curricula for Massachusetts districts, teacher PD, and ongoing student screenings to increase reading proficiency. This policy win will impact nearly 300K Massachusetts PreK-3 students, and I’m hopeful this collaborative effort will increase the momentum to boost literacy in Massachusetts.