The Reading League Summit is a ‘historic opportunity’ to shape future conversations on Simple View of Reading

Scientists and experts will discuss areas of consensus on instructional practices

SYRACUSE, N.Y., Feb. 4, 2025  — The Reading League, a national nonprofit led by educators and reading experts who advance the knowledge and implementation of the science of reading, will hold its third annual Summit on April 22-23, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago.

This year’s Summit features The Reading League’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Maria Murray, with a keynote address titled, “The Science of Reading: With Growing Awareness Comes Incomplete Understandings.” This event convenes experts from various perspectives to seek consensus on instructional practices related to components within the Simple View of Reading. The impressive slate of experts and scientists who will discuss areas of consensus and critique includes:

• Nell Duke, Wesley Hoover, Kathy Escamilla, and Richard Sparks to discuss the Simple View of Reading (moderated by Jose Viana),
• Peter Bowers, Teresa Krastel, M. Adelaida Restrepo, and Julie Van Dyke to discuss Language Comprehension (moderated by Tiffany Hogan),
• Susan Brady, Linnea Ehri, David Kilpatrick, and Ramona Pittman to discuss Word Recognition (moderated by Louisa Moats) and
• Leslie Laud, Reid Smith, Adrea Truckenmiller, and Kay Wijekumar will discuss Reading Comprehension (moderated by Mitchell Brookins).

Access registration information for the third annual The Reading League Summit.

“There have been many conversations about the Simple View of Reading as a starting point for evidence-aligned instruction,” said Kari Kurto, national science of reading project director for The Reading League. “However, this is the first time experts like Wes Hoover and Nell Duke will discuss the research of the Simple View of Reading and other models together. It’s a historic opportunity to shape future literacy education conversations.”

The ability to read and learn enables social and economic mobility, increasing one’s chances of success in life. Yet, America’s literacy crisis threatens that future.

In Illinois, NAEP data show that 38% of fourth-graders have below-level proficiency in reading, with 67% of students scoring below proficient. In 2024, the Illinois State Board of Education asked school districts to prioritize comprehensive evidence-aligned literacy instruction, supporting educators with training through implementation and assessment.

Educators are eager to put into practice what they have learned from the science of reading, yet incomplete knowledge sometimes leads to oversimplified understandings and instruction that is not as effective as it could be. The Summit will allow the education community to explore these complexities and clarify the implications for effective teaching.

Notably, attendees will be seated at tables to listen, learn and collaborate. After each panel discussion, they will participate in interactive Q&A sessions and table conversations, allowing for in-depth exploration of the debated literacy topics.

“Our Summit provides a rare opportunity for experts–panelists, moderators, and attendees–to spend the day listening and learning,” Murray said. “ We identify areas where there is consensus and areas that need further research and discussion. Together, we seek the clarity educators have long been yearning for.”

Founded in 2015, The Reading League is a national education nonprofit based in Syracuse, N.Y., that seeks to advance the awareness, understanding, and use of evidence-aligned reading instruction. For more information about the Summit, please visit https://www.thereadingleague.org/trl-summit

Contact:
Byron McCauley
Director of Public Relations
513-504-8915
byron@thereadingleague.org

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