District/School Resources PK-16 Program Support
Office of Literacy

Massachusetts Middle and High School Reading Initiative

The Massachusetts Middle and High School Reading Initiative, with the support of federal special education funding, has thus far funded 117 middle and high schools that are committed to improving adolescent literacy achievement. The project began in 2002 with the development of the Massachusetts Secondary Literacy Framework. This framework includes three key components: reading instruction for all students, additional intervention programs for struggling readers, and a comprehensive reading assessment system. The model's school-wide approach is based on eight fundamental principles: (1) involvement of all staff in literacy instruction; (2) a focus on reading across the content areas; (3) multiple interventions for struggling readers; (4) professional development for all staff; (5) adequate time for reading and writing in the school schedule; (6) flexible grouping patterns; (7) assessment that drives instruction; and (8) leadership support and guidance. Recipient schools receive small planning grants to form reading leadership teams and to develop a school profile of current practices and a related school action plan. For three succeeding years, schools then receive small grants to implement one or more elements of their action plans.

In addition to receiving a small grant, schools come together in network meetings three times a year to discuss current research on adolescent literacy and share their efforts to improve adolescent literacy achievement. Members of the Reading Leadership Team at each school (which consists of a cross-section of staff, including representatives from all content areas and special programs) attend these meetings. Topics discussed include: Creating a School-wide Approach to Improving Reading; Assessing Literacy Needs; Vocabulary Development; Improving Comprehension; Motivation; Helping the Struggling Adolescent Reader; Content Area Literacy; and Effective Writing Instruction. Participants have had an opportunity to hear from a number of national literacy experts, including Cathy Collins Block, Dorothy Strickland, Tim Shanahan, Donald Deshler, Steve Graham, Donald Leu, and John Guthrie. Staff from project schools and other Massachusetts schools lead breakout sessions at each network meeting. These breakout sessions provide an opportunity for other project schools to learn about the promising practices that are being tried by fellow schools, so that they may consider adopting or adapting these practices. At each meeting, all school teams have a chance to meet with other school teams to reflect on the day's learning and to discuss implications for their schools.