Advancing Student Literacy and Numeracy (ASLAN)

Consolidating and continuing work over the past two years to support dissemination and use of research in literacy education, in July 2007 the Center launched new efforts to support similar work in mathematic education. In addition to our annual symposia ("Partners in Literacy: Enhancing Teaching Quality in New England"—2006 and "Promoting Student Literacy Through Comprehension: Enhancing Teacher Preparation and Professional Development"—2007) one math education and five literacy education projects are now underway:

• The State Education Agency Literacy Leaders Network brings leaders together to communicate, share knowledge, and solve problems in state efforts to advance literacy education collectively.
• NECC engages state leaders in dialogue and knowledge dissemination on Teacher Program Approval and Certification. State leaders from Maryland and Colorado are sharing their states' policy efforts to infuse literacy teacher pre-service and licensure policy with current research in literacy education.
• Participants at the 2006 NECC symposium on teacher knowledge for literacy education voiced a need for consensus on the literacy research base; in response, NECC created a Consensus Building project that engages pre-service educators, state literacy leaders, and district literacy leaders in online dialogue about the research in literacy education. Discussion takes place via NECC's synchronous and asynchronous online forums.
• The use of Instructional Coaching as a strategy for improving teaching and learning in literacy and mathematics has increased exponentially in recent years. NECC engages state leaders in examining research and best practice on the use of instructional coaching to promote effective use of the strategy.
• To address the need for Principal Literacy Leadership, NECC supports a regional workgroup that is developing a tool to guide principals in assessing their schools' literacy capacities and identify ways to strengthen literacy education in their schools.

Mathematics Education

The NECC Mathematics Education Leaders Network brings state mathematics education leaders, mathematics educators in higher education, and district mathematics leaders together in dialogue about state and national efforts to advance the knowledge base in mathematics education. Through webinars, online discussions, and face-to-face meetings, participants hear from and interact with mathematics education researchers.

Contact

Cerelle Morrow: cmorrowedc.org
Kathy Dunne: kdunnewested.org