How CT’s Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success Supports the Implementation of the State’s Right to Read Legislation ft. Dr. Melissa Hickey

Since November 2022, Dr. Melissa K. Wlodarczyk Hickey has been the Director of The Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success at the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE). She joined the CSDE in January 2016 as the Reading/Literacy Director and supervisor of the Academic Office. She has been an educator in Connecticut for over 20 years with a wide range of experiences such as district literacy administrator, literacy instructional coach, middle school reading/writing teacher, and second grade teacher. Prior to joining the CSDE, Dr. Hickeywas the Director of Humanities for the Hartford Public Schools. In this episode, Dr. Hickey dives into the role of The Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success and its current initiatives. 

Key Takeaways

• Connecticut’s Right to Read legislation was initiated by Senator Miller and the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus. It was this legislation that charged the Connecticut State Department of Education with establishing the Center for Literacy Research and Readingsuccess.

• “The mission of the Center is to lead statewide change and increase the effectiveness of literacy teaching and learning through advocacy, research, and education so that all Connecticut students are reading at or above grade level independently and proficiently by the end of third grade.” 

• “We know that students who are not reading by the end of first grade are at significant risk for continued reading difficulties throughout school and beyond. And the impact of low literacy is seen at many levels.”

• The Center has collaboratively reviewed and approved a list of scientifically based, evidence-backed reading curriculum models or programs as well as compendiums.

• Connecticut also has a state approved list of reading screeners for students in grades k-3. The screening results provide a “pulse” on how the students are reading and if the student is struggling to learn to read.

Links from the episode:

• The Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success

• Connecticut's Approved K-3 Reading Curriculum Models or Programs

• Approved Menu of Research-based Universal Screening Reading Assessments for Kindergarten

• Your Child’s Right to Read Checklist

• Reading Rockets