This MERC seminar will discuss the recent expansion of the Virginia Literacy Act into middle schools across the Commonwealth. It will include a summary of findings from a recent MERC research and policy review on this topic, followed by perspectives from school division and state leaders of literacy instruction. Participants will learn about recent research, trends, and policy developments related to middle school literacy support in Virginia and be invited to exchange strategies and resources for providing effective literacy instruction at the middle school level. Presenters include:

Candace Bechtold; PhD Student, Curriculum, Culture, and Change, VCU

Jan Collins, Language Arts/Reading/Writing Curriculum Specialist, Hanover County Public Schools

David Naff, PhD; MERC Director, Associate Professor of Research, Assessment, and Evaluation, VCU

Jill Nogueras, Associate Director of English Literacy K-12, Virginia Department of Education

Joan Rhodes, PhD; Associate Professor of Teaching and Learning, VCU

Valerie Robnolt, PhD; Associate Professor of Teaching and Learning, VCU

Christina Whitfield, English & Language Arts Coordinator, Hanover County Public Schools