Adolescent Literacy: Evidence Based Instructional Strategies - Why, What and How

Reading achievement among adolescents has been of national concern particularly with the NAEP results reported over the last 10 years (NAEP 2009).  These data evidence little progress in 4^th and 8^th grade reading comprehension and questions arise as to the future capacity for this group to assume the leadership roles within our global culture (Alliance Fact Sheet  February 2009).  Data from the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments mirror these same concerns for vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension.  While improvement has been noted and multiple measures provided, students with disabilities continue to not minimal standards in English.