This fall, elementary school teachers and school leaders in one third of North Carolina school districts will begin LETRS training, with an ambitious goal of training all elementary school educators in the science of reading.

As we begin a new school year, in some ways, I’d like to block much of the pain and uncertainty that we experienced in our public schools last academic year. Amid the tremendous disruption, our grantee partners seized opportunities to accelerate their mission to support students and teachers.

North Carolina, we need a common understanding of what the “science of reading” really means. In the past week, much has been written and said in reaction to the reference to science of reading in the Excellent Public Schools Act of 2021.

The data is clear about the importance of children being able to read on grade level by third grade as a foundation of their education and future success. Today, we will delve into some shifts in how we think about early literacy and the direction the state and other partners are heading in regard to reading.

Teachers are the most important school-based resource for student learning. Highly effective teachers are an investment in our future — a sure way to promote students’ academic and social-emotional development.

For years, Leah Rausch thought about becoming a teacher. As a child, she recalls, she would line her stuffed animals up in her bedroom, forming a makeshift classroom with her toy students.

Teachers are at the heart of our educational system, therefore it is imperative that educational leaders support and retain talented educators. Advanced Teaching Role (ATR) models provide multiple avenues to do this.

As a family foundation with over 90 years of history, we have never faced a confluence of events like we have in 2020.

Nina Anderson is a first-grader in Charlotte. Due to recent school closures, Nina’s classroom looks very different than it did a few weeks ago. She and millions of other North Carolina students are learning from home. I interviewed Nina, her mom, and her teacher to learn more about what learning looks like right now.

Growing up, one of my favorite shows was Nick News with Linda Ellerbee. For those who missed it, Nick News was a long-running news show for kids hosted by Peabody-award winning journalist Linda Ellerbee.

Early seasons of the show explored myriad topics framed by the “Five W’s” (Who?, What?, When?, Where?, Why?) and the occasional 6th, How?