• Equitable Literacy

    Equitable Literacy (EQL) is both a framework designed by Boston Public Schools and a commitment to secure the rights of quality literacy instruction for all of our students, particularly students who have been historically marginalized and underserved . It is a call for us to use research-based literacy instructional practices and research-based culturally and linguistically sustaining pedagogy to allow students to access powerful literacy experiences.

    Girl writing

    Equitable Literacy instruction is:

    • A commitment to enacting 5 research & evidence based literacy practices
    • Standards-aligned instruction
    • Guided by the individual needs of students
    • Culturally affirming
    • Builds on student’s existing schema and funds of knowledge
    • Delivered by teachers, who understand the science of teaching reading, language acquisition, and Culturally Linguistic Sustaining Practices (CLSP)

     

    What We Do

    To support schools in meeting their instructional and student learning targets, the EQL Team provides research and evidence based guidance, consultation, and coaching to help individuals, teams and school based instructional leaders (principals,department leads, instructional coaches) build their relevant knowledge and skills to better analyze, design, plan and implement equitable literacy practices while building their capacity to deepen their reflections on practice. The specific supports provided by EQL teams within the regional model are listed below.

    SUPPORT AREA 1: EQL Walkthroughs for Instructional Support and Strategic Planning
    SUPPORT AREA 2: QSP Support for Strategic Design and Progress Monitoring
    SUPPORT AREA 3: Teaming Support for Instructional Alignment and EQL Implementation
    SUPPORT AREA 4: Professional Development

     

    Mission

    Equitable Literacy furthers the mandate of the Opportunity Gaps Policy (2016) by centering the experiences of Black, Latinx, students with disabilities and multilingual learners in our district’s instructional focus. BPS utilizes high quality instructional materials, professional learning, coaching, strategic planning and accountability structures to ensure that its community members have the knowledge and skills to enact culturally competent, research-based, interdisciplinary literacy practices.

    Vision

    Students who experience equitable literacy instruction, particularly Black and Latinx students, multilingual learners and students with disabilities, will not only gain essential foundational literacy skills, but ultimately develop an advanced ability to read, write and communicate across the disciplines. All students will identify a relevant connection between classroom learning and the world around them. They will feel recognized as experienced, capable agents of their own learning and of change in the world.

     

     

    Upcoming Events and Professional Learning

    If you are interested in improving your knowledge and skills to better support the literacy development of your students, please consider attending some of the professional learning, workshops or training listed below. Remember to check the links occasionally as new events are added regularly.

    For Educators, Paraprofessionals and Coaches in Pk-Grade 2

    For Educators, Paraprofessionals and Coaches in Grades 5-10

    For Educators , Paraprofessionals and Coaches in Grades 7-12