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 participated, engaged deeply in our live virtual session with the authors, and shared thoughtful reflections each week through the resources and questions we sent out.
The experience reminded me of the “common read” programs that used to fill public libraries years ago—when whole communities would read the same book together, sparking conversations and shared understanding. That’s what happened here. A common read brings people together around a shared text and a shared purpose. For us, that purpose is supporting stronger reading outcomes for all students. This kind of collective learning strengthens our understanding of key research, deepens professional dialogue, and unites us across roles and regions.
Sarah Brown and Stephanie Stollar told us how impressed they were by the thoughtful, challenging questions that participants raised—questions that showed not just curiosity, but commitment to real, meaningful implementation. In fact, we received so many insightful questions that the authors created an FAQ document to respond to 25 that we didn’t have time to answer during the live sessions.
If you’re reading this and feeling like you missed out—don’t worry. We’ve recorded all the sessions, gathered the resources and discussion questions, and organized everything in one place on our virtual bulletin board. Whether you want to revisit the material or use it to lead your own book study with a PLC this year, we hope it’s helpful.
And what’s next? We’re already planning our 2026 book study, though the book hasn’t been chosen yet. Maybe we’ll explore the science of learning, adolescent literacy, or a topic just beginning to emerge. Whatever it is, we hope you’ll save the date and join us. A common read—done well—sparks conversation and builds understanding. Let’s keep reading, learning, and leading—together.
Summer Book Study Recap 2025: MTSS for Reading Improvement
