The House of Delegates recently filed a bill to study the effectiveness of training programs for reading teachers.
After years of research, we know the nature, causes and treatment of reading difficulties. We also know that what the classroom teacher does has a significant impact on student outcomes.
There is a big void in teacher training standards, which have not been aligned with scientific research. In 2012, the American Federation of Teachers called for a more rigorous threshold to ensure that every teacher is actually ready to teach reading.
All prospective teachers should meet a universal and rigorous bar that gauges their mastery of the subject matter and demonstrates their competency. The foundation of knowledge in reading is comparable to that of anatomy for medical students — it is not a curriculum so much as what an effective curriculum needs to be based on. Maryland requires no test of knowledge about the foundations of reading.
One of the goals of the task force is to make recommendations regarding whether the state should require additional teacher training in reading instruction, course work assessments and certifications. The work of this panel is important to ensure that every child in Maryland learns to read.
Barbara Donick