In this episode of Policy Changes Lives, host Dr. Kymyona Burk, ExcelinEd senior policy fellow of literacy, sits down with Jeanne Schopf, a veteran K–12 educator, literacy coach, reading specialist and interventionist, to explore why improving literacy policy cannot stop in the early grades. Drawing on more than three decades of experience and her work on structured literacy, explicit instruction and the Science of Reading, Schopf discusses what it takes to help adolescent students who may still be developing the reading skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. As more states turn their attention to secondary literacy, the conversation examines how the needs of older readers connect to—and differ from—those of early learners.
Schopf also shares insights from Reading Isn’t Optional: Fulfilling the Promise of Literacy for Secondary Students, highlighting the importance of sustained, evidence-based instruction and support throughout a student’s education. The conversation explores the policy levers and instructional practices state leaders can use to build comprehensive literacy systems that extend beyond the elementary years.
For policymakers and educators, the episode offers an important reminder: the promise of literacy must extend through every grade, ensuring students have the reading skills they need to access rigorous coursework, graduate prepared and succeed in life.
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