Why Do MD School Districts Need to Retrain Reading Teachers? You'll be Surprised by the Answer

On February 8th in Annapolis, Decoding Dyslexia Maryland held a panel discussion entitled: "How to Fix the Reading Failure Model -- Solutions that Work" which included Megan Shay, Interim Executive Director, Academics for Baltimore County Public Schools and Nancy Scharff, an Instructional Consultant for Philadelphia's Read by 4th Campaign.  

Other panelists included members of Decoding Dyslexia Maryland:  Winifred Winston, Baltimore City, Liz Hembling, Baltimore County, Marla Migdal, Frederick County and Diana Gough, Prince George's County.  

All of the panelists spoke about the Big Problem in public schools:  The gap between undergraduate teacher preparation in foundational reading instruction and the critical need for teachers who can deliver explicit, direct instruction in the foundational elements of language and the science of reading.  Teachers are surprised when they enter the clasroomThis gap lies at the feet of teacher preparation programs across the country, including Maryland's teacher preparation programs.

To solve the teacher preparation gap, districts like Baltimore County are providing up to 60 hours of reading preparation to  teachers so all students can learn to read.  

​Decoding Dyslexia Maryland applauds Baltimore County for its investment in teachers because teachers make all the difference #soallCanRead.

​Decoding Dyslexia Maryland applauds Baltimore County for its investment in teachers because teachers make all the difference #soallCanRead