THE READING LEAGUE
Blog
Explore insights, success stories, and practical guidance from educators and experts advancing the science of reading. The Reading League Blog highlights evidence-aligned practices, professional learning, and stories that inspire change in literacy instruction.
The Curriculum Evaluation Guidelines (3rd Edition)
By Kari Kurto, Director of Policy and Partnerships Identifying a Need Five and a half years ago, while I was working at the Rhode Island Department of Education, I was invited to participate in a project led by one of my literacy mentors, Dr. Maria Murray. At the time, many states were approving Tier I curricula that met review criteria, including standards alignment, usability, and evidence of effectiveness in controlled trials. Selecting a curriculum is a significant decision, and the more information decision-makers have, the stronger and more contextually aligned their choices will be. Despite such comprehensive reviews, many curricula publishers continued to include instructional practices for language comprehension, reading comprehension, writing, and foundational skills that were not aligned
Watertown City School District: Transforming Literacy Instruction With The Reading League
Case Study Watertown City School District About the District Located in Northern New York, Watertown City School District supports a diverse community of learners across eight schools—each working to strengthen literacy outcomes. Location Watertown, NY Pre-K-12 Students 5 Elementary Schools 1 Intermediate School 1 Middle School 1 High School Student Population 3,957 Economic Markers Economically Disadvantaged: 69% The Challenge Watertown City School District, located in Upstate New York, faced a familiar yet critical challenge: improving literacy outcomes while navigating a crowded field of programs and instructional approaches. Despite a strong commitment to student success,
5 Things You Should Know About The Reading League Summit
If you’ve ever left a conference wishing for more time to connect research, data, and classroom practice, The Reading League Summit is for you. This unique event brings together educators, researchers, and leaders for a shared journey toward one goal: using literacy data to make a real difference for students. Here are five things you should know before you join us in May 2026. 1. Everyone learns together. At the Summit, there are no competing sessions or scattered schedules. Every participant—whether you’re a teacher, researcher, principal, district leader, school psychologist, university faculty, coach, or consultant—spends two days in the same room, engaging in one shared experience. The result? A genuine sense of collaboration and a shared understanding that connects
Summer Book Study Recap 2025: MTSS for Reading Improvement
By Andrea Setmeyer, National Chapter Director This summer, The Reading League Chapter Network hosted our annual book study with a new release: MTSS for Reading Improvement by Sarah Brown and Stephanie Stollar. Chapter leaders from across the country selected this title because of its practical, empowering guidance for school leaders working to implement the science of reading in complex school systems. Implementation is at the heart of so many conversations right now, and we believed this book would serve as a valuable, actionable resource for school teams. What we didn’t expect? Over 5,200 educators and leaders from every U.S. state, D.C., and even Canada joined us for this summer of learning! The response was incredible—educators from all roles
Embracing Educator Growth: Our Shift From “Professional Development” to “Professional Learning”
At The Reading League, we’ve made a deliberate choice to no longer use the term “professional development” (PD). Instead, we embrace professional learning. This shift is intentional and rooted in a deeper understanding of how educators grow and improve. The Limitations of "Professional Development" Traditionally, PD is synonymous with workshops, seminars, and one-time training sessions where information is delivered to educators. While well-intentioned, these delivery models often fail to lead to meaningful changes in teaching practices. As Michael Fullan (2007) aptly noted, the term itself can be "a major obstacle to progress in teacher learning." This is because the focus tends to be on delivering content rather than fostering genuine learning and growth. Embracing a New Paradigm: Professional Learning
A Mission in Action: How Colorado’s 5280 Literacy Symposium Helped Advance the Right to Read
By Alex Frazier, The Reading League Colorado President At The Reading League, our mission is simple but powerful: to advance evidence-aligned reading instruction so that every child can become a confident, skilled reader. In Colorado, that mission came to life with the launch of our first-ever, in-person 5280 Literacy Symposium in June 2024—and just one year later, we are celebrating a powerful outcome for kids across the state. Kareem Weaver speaking at the 2024 Symposium The 2024 symposium was more than an event—it was a movement. We brought together educators, families, and advocates for a day of inspiration and action. The program featured keynote speaker Kareem Weaver, whose voice continues to challenge us to put
