Educator Effectiveness

Early Literacy in Educator Preparation

Evidence-based early literacy instruction, provided within schools and classrooms that are culturally responsive and sustaining, will put our youngest students on a path toward literacy for life. In the Massachusetts school system, some of our children receive the instruction and support they need to develop a strong foundation for literacy — and some don't. Today, only about half of 3rd graders are meeting literacy expectations, and the reading proficiency levels for Black and Latinx students are less than half that for White students. These statistics reflect not student effort or ability, but opportunity and support to learn. DESE is committed to advancing evidence-based, culturally responsive early literacy practices across Massachusetts from educator preparation to K–12 classrooms.

In 2019, DESE launched the Mass Literacy initiative and its centerpiece, the Mass Literacy Guide. The goal of Mass Literacy is to support pre-service and in-service educators in grades PreK–3 to gain deep knowledge of literacy development and to skillfully implement evidence-based, inclusive, culturally responsive practices using high-quality instructional materials and assessments.

In line with the mission of Mass Literacy, it's critical that prospective teachers are learning evidence-based early literacy practices and how they can be enacted in a culturally responsive way. Currently in Massachusetts, the extent to which new teachers are learning evidence-based early literacy practices varies widely:

  • Only one-third of surveyed teacher candidates and recent completers in 2020 and 2021 agreed that "there are instructional routines for teaching each component of literacy which are supported by scientific evidence."
  • According to a 2021 syllabi review of required courses in elementary and early childhood programs across nine teacher preparation providers, some candidates currently are not afforded opportunities to learn about key topics such as decoding, phonemic awareness, and components of writing instruction.

DESE's goal is that by SY2024-2025, all Early Childhood, Elementary, and Moderate Disabilities teacher candidates in Massachusetts are prepared, through coursework and opportunities for practice and high-quality feedback, in evidence-based early literacy as outlined in the Mass Literacy Guide.

Our Way Forward

Being able to read, write, speak, and communicate are essential for full participation in our society. Literacy affords access to ideas, opportunities, and so much more. In conjunction with a significant investment in our K–12 schools and classrooms, DESE has launched a multi-year initiative to support and invest educator preparation providers in meeting the goal of ensuring that all prospective teachers are learning evidence-based early literacy practices aligned to Mass Literacy.

This initiative includes:

  • Early Literacy Program Approval Criteria
    The Early Literary Program Approval Criteria set expectations for all Elementary, Early Childhood, and Moderate Disabilities PK–2/PK–8 initial licensure programs that these teacher candidates receive training and preparation in evidence-based literacy instruction so that they can meet the needs of all students from the moment they step into the classroom.

  • Accelerated Early Literacy Program Review and Approval
    As part of Governor Healey's Literacy Launch initiative, DESE is accelerating the review timelines for Elementary, Early Childhood, Moderate Disabilities PK–2, and Moderate Disabilities PK–8 teacher preparation programs. Starting in SY2024-2025, the Early Literacy Interim Reviews will assess programmatic alignment to the new Early Literacy Program Approval Criteria so that all teachers are prepared to implement evidence-based, inclusive, and culturally and linguistically sustaining early literacy instruction. Learn more at: Accelerated Early Literacy Program Review and Approval.

  • Formative Feedback Reviews for Early Literacy Programs
    From Fall 2022 through Spring 2024, DESE offered optional, no-stakes formative feedback reviews of Early Childhood, Elementary, and Moderate Disabilities PK–8 programs across the Commonwealth in order to provide sponsoring organizations with clear, comprehensive feedback on programmatic alignment to new expectations for early literacy instruction. Twelve sponsoring organizations took advantage of the opportunity and invited TPI-US to conduct a thorough review of literacy coursework as well as the extent to which field-based placements and partnerships with PK–12 districts supported pre-service teachers' preparation in evidence-based early literacy instruction. Our team is grateful for these organizations whose willingness to engage in this work and to provide thoughtful feedback informed revisions to the Early Literacy Program Approval Criteria and the review process.

  • MTEL Updates
    DESE has updated and expanded the number of licensure assessments aligned to Mass Literary and the MA curriculum frameworks, including the updated Foundations of Reading MTEL (released 2020), the Reading Specialist MTEL (released 2022), and the identification of alternative assessments for Foundations of Reading through the 3-year MTEL-Alternative Assessment Pilot.

  • Early Literacy Observation Tool
    The Early Literacy Observation Tool supports educator preparation supervisors to observe and provide high-quality feedback to teacher candidates on their practice in evidence-based early literacy. Beginning in the 2024-2025 academic school year, this tool will be integrated into the Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP) for all candidates in Early Childhood, Elementary, and/or Moderate Disabilities licensure programs. Read the full memo regarding the Early Literacy Observation Form Timeline.

Resources for Early Literacy Educators:

Early Literacy Consortium Grant

In Spring 2024, DESE launched the Early Literacy Consortium Grant, a funding opportunity to support deeper partnerships between PK–12 schools and educator preparation providers who are committed to advancing evidence-based early literacy instruction. Six regional consortia were awarded the grant and began developing programming, professional development, and/or strategic planning to improve literacy practices in their classrooms and programs of study.

If you would like to learn more about this grant, email Siobhan Allen or check out these resources:

Early Literacy Screening Guidance Informational Webinar

On September 20, 2022, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education adopted an amendment to 603 CMR 28.03 that requires all elementary schools to assess each student's reading abilities and early literacy skills at least twice per year from kindergarten through at least third grade. The regulation, 603 CMR 28.03(1)(f), went into effect on July 1, 2023. In response to this new requirement, DESE developed guidance for schools and districts to support implementation of screeners. In September 2023, DESE hosted an informational webinar for faculty of educator preparation programs to share an overview of the guidance and discuss implications for preparing teacher candidates.

You can watch a recording of the webinar . Please feel free to reach out to Linda Sewnarine, Assistant Director of the Office of Literacy and Humanities, with any questions at linda.sewnarine@mass.gov .

Mass Literacy Online Overview Course

This asynchronous online course is offered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as part of the Commonwealth's Mass Literacy initiative, a statewide effort to empower educators with the evidence-based practices for literacy that all students need. It is available at no cost to any educator who works in a Massachusetts education organization (e.g., public or private school/school district; institute of higher education; local, regional, or state educational organization).

The course is designed to provide learning experiences that support participants to deepen their understanding of how to:

Teach literacy using evidence-based instructional practices for foundational skills and engaging with complex text.

Utilize a multi-tiered system of support for students experiencing reading difficulties.

Sponsoring organizations are able to register groups of educators for the course. Faculty and program supervisors who have taken the course to bolster their understanding of Mass Literacy have stated that the course was a "great review of the components of literacy" and "allowed for better discussion with colleagues about early literacy expectations." If interested, email online@keystoliteracy.com for a group registration form. Please include "Mass Literacy Online Course" in the subject line.

Early Literacy in Education Preparation Professional Learning Community and Resource Library

This spring, DESE launched a professional learning community (PLC) for education preparation faculty to engage with the new Early Literacy Program Approval Criteria. The PLC, facilitated by The Reading Circuit, was designed to support faculty as they ensure that teacher candidates in Elementary, Early Childhood, and Moderate Disabilities PK–8 licensure programs are well prepared in evidence-based, culturally and linguistically sustaining early literacy instruction.

Our 2024-25 early literacy professional learning communities, facilitated by The Reading Circuit , have officially begun and are off to a great start. You can view some of the shared resources on each cohort's page:

Cohort 1:
This cohort is in their second year of participating in this PLC. Faculty and staff who joined in Spring 2024 are able to continue their work on implementing the Early Literacy Program Approval Criteria. To learn more about the work, visit the Cohort 1 PLC webpage.

Cohort 2:
The Reading Circuit is also supporting a second cohort of educator preparation faculty in order to expand access to professional learning and cross-organization collaboration to support programmatic shifts in early literacy instruction. The new cohort will meet for 8 sessions over the academic year. To learn more about the work, visit the Cohort 2 PLC webpage.

Equity through Early Literacy Webinar Series

In Spring 2023, DESE hosted a series of webinars focused on the impact of evidence-based early literacy on more equitable outcomes for all students. The series tapped into the expertise of both national and local literacy scholars, researchers, and advocates to explore the intersection of early literacy instruction and culturally and linguistically sustaining practices and discuss the intended long-term effects of responsive early literacy instruction in disrupting historically inequitable student outcomes.

You can watch recordings of the webinars here:

For more information and links to references in the webinars, email jessica.bazinet@mass.gov

Partnering with Educators

Throughout this initiative, DESE is working closely with faculty and administrators, K–12 educators, families, and students as we collectively work to empower educators with the evidence-based practices for early literacy that all students need. Part of this outreach includes opportunities to support districts as they make the shift to using evidence-based early literacy practices and high-quality instructional materials, including:

If you would like to learn more, please contact us at EducatorDevelopment@mass.gov .

Early Literacy Email Updates

Want to stay in the loop about our Early Literacy in Educator Preparation initiative? Every quarter, we share news, upcoming opportunities, and announcements in our Early Literacy in Educator Preparation Quarterly Update.

Subscribe to receive quarterly updates

To see past Early Literacy Quarterly Updates, please visit our Archives

Last Updated: April 22, 2025