Sold a Story 12: The Evidence
Feb 27, 2025
Dive into the transformative journey behind a powerful educational program designed to boost reading skills among underprivileged children. Discover the challenges faced by the Steubenville school district and the promising 'Success for All' initiative that emerged. Uncover the complexities of implementing evidence-based methodologies and the hurdles posed by veteran teachers. The episode critiques the effectiveness of popular reading programs and emphasizes the need for accountability and proven practices in enhancing literacy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Origins of a Partnership
- Nancy Madden and Bob Slavin, driven by a shared passion for educational equity, met at Reed College.
- They sought to challenge the prevailing notion that family background outweighs school quality in student success.
The Challenge and the Phonics-Based Approach
- A challenge from a former Baltimore City School Board member prompted Nancy and Bob to create a program to improve schools.
- Starting with preschool, they developed a program that prioritized a phonics-based approach to reading, even when it wasn't popular.
Success for All: A Whole-School Approach
- Success for All is not just a reading program; it's a whole-school reform program aimed at preventing failure.
- It addresses attendance, parental engagement, and tutoring to ensure students can benefit from core instruction.