Since teachers lack a certified reading specialist to guide their high school literacy efforts, they have never had a well-reasoned, research-based plan for addressing the growing needs of adolescent readers. According to a June 2009 National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) report, most U. S. secondary schools do have personnel who are…

There is a lack of research on how Wisconsin's high schools are addressing the literacy needs of their students. State Statute 118.015 requires a district reading specialist, but there has been very little research done on compliance; therefore, the first phase of the study was to collect and analyze both demographic and descriptive data via a…

Following a nationwide trend, reading scores at Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School in suburban Chicago began dropping with the entrance of the new millennium. However, through its newly created Reading Department, Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School is providing comprehensive, direct reading instruction throughout grade and skill…

What role must principals play in order to effectively support literacy coaching efforts? This is a question that many educators have begun to ask (Burkins, 2007; Casey, 2006; Kral, 2007; Shanklin, 2007; Steiner & Kowal, 2007; Toll, 2008). Some suggest that principals can establish close relationships with literacy coaches by offering a number…

The Status of Reading Programs Committee of the Connecticut Association for Reading Research devised and sent a survey questionnaire which was returned by 43 percent of its membership, representing 33 different school systems in Connecticut. It was reported that the ratio of reading personnel to classroom teachers was 1:54 at the elementary level,…

This curriculum guide identifies three reading courses taught at the junior high school level (intensive reading, improving reading, and developmental reading) and five reading courses taught at the senior high school level (intensive reading, improving reading, practical reading, developmental reading, and power reading), designed to meet the…