Iowa Department of Education

As a group, Iowa students continue to perform above the national averages on many indicators of achievement (Iowa Department of Education, 2006a). However, those same data suggest that achievement levels in literacy are not rising and are even declining in relation to past performance and in relation to student performance in other states. This is occurring at a time when the average literacy required for U.S. occupations is rising rapidly. In 2006, in an effort to address the needs of adolescents in Iowa, the Department of Education organized an Adolescent Literacy Research and Development Team (ALRDT) whose goals were three fold:

1. To form a cadre of people who would serve as a knowledgeable resource to Area Education Agencies (AEA) and Local Education Agencies (LEA).
2. To develop a proposed plan for building capacity statewide to improve adolescent literacy.
3. To identify potential resource materials needed to support the capacity building efforts.

 Accelerating Adolescent Literacy: Executive Summary (2008-02-22) - This executive summary documents the processes and outcomes associated with achieving the goals of the ALRDT.

 Accelerating Adolescent Literacy: Full Report (2008-02-29) - This full report details the processes and outcomes associated with achieving the goals of the ALRDT.

2007-08 ALRDT Membership List

2007-08 ALRDT Meeting Dates

• August 29, 2007
• November 14, 2007
• February 6, 2008
• April 9, 2008

Contact

Deb Squires, Consultant
515-281-6235
deb.squires@iowa.gov