Connecticut Literacy Grant Targets K-3 Readers

Posted on September 8, 2026 by Miles Hawthorne

On August 24, 2026, Connecticut was awarded a five-year, $10 million federal grant through the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research program. The Connecticut Literacy Grant was designed to expand targeted reading intervention, with integrated positive behavioral supports, for K-3 students who have significant reading difficulties, according to the state announcement from the Connecticut State Department of Education.

For families, teachers, and community literacy partners, the award … Read the rest

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Massachusetts Literacy Grants Support Readers

Posted on September 7, 2026 by Miles Hawthorne

Massachusetts Literacy Grants moved from policy promise to district-level action on August 6, 2026, when the state awarded nearly $24.7 million to 71 school districts and one educational collaborative through four PRISM grant programs. The funding was designed to support evidence-based literacy instruction from pre-K through grade 12, with attention to instructional materials, educator learning, and reading outcomes across schools.

The award sat within Massachusetts’ Literacy Launch work, which had … Read the rest

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Homeschooling Growth Data: What 4.2% Means

Posted on September 6, 2026 by Cora Winslow

Homeschooling Growth Data has drawn renewed attention because one recent estimate placed the weighted mean of homeschooled school-age children at about 4.18% in 2024-25 across 23 state reporting systems. That figure is useful, but it should be read with care. It does not mean every national count agrees on the same number. It does show that home-based education remained a significant part of U.S. schooling after the sharp changes families … Read the rest

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Special Education Rights Under New Agreements

Posted on September 6, 2026 by Cora Winslow

Special education rights remained in force after the U.S. Department of Education announced new interagency agreements on June 16, 2026, but families and schools had good reason to ask practical questions. The announcement shifted many day-to-day administrative duties for disability-related programs and civil rights enforcement across federal agencies, while the Department of Education stated that it retained statutory authority.

For educators, caregivers, and community partners, the clearest starting point is … Read the rest

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AI Literacy in U.S. Schools: Practical Steps

Posted on September 5, 2026 by Cora Winslow

AI Literacy is becoming a practical planning issue for U.S. schools, not just a technology topic for computer science classes. As of September 5, 2026, federal guidance has moved from broad encouragement toward clearer starting points for schools, workforce partners, and community organizations. The challenge for educators is to turn that guidance into age-appropriate lessons that help students ask better questions, protect their privacy, understand limits, and use artificial intelligence … Read the rest

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Philadelphia Adult Literacy: Crisis and Solutions

Posted on September 4, 2026 by Cora Winslow

Philadelphia Adult Literacy is not only an education issue. It affects work, health forms, school communication, public services, and the confidence adults need to take part in civic life. As of September 4, 2026, the strongest available local reporting points to a serious gap between need and capacity: more than 200,000 adults in Philadelphia lack the literacy, numeracy, or English-language skills needed to fully participate in the economy or civic … Read the rest

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Wyoming Literacy Law And K-12 Reading Support

Posted on September 4, 2026 by Miles Hawthorne

The Wyoming Literacy Law is now in effect, giving families, teachers, and districts a statewide framework for K-12 reading instruction, assessment, intervention, and educator training. Signed on March 6, 2026, and effective on July 1, 2026, the law sets expectations for evidence-based language and literacy instruction across public schools while also calling for parent or caregiver involvement when students need extra reading support.

For early childhood and elementary literacy, the … Read the rest

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Homeschool Legal Protections Gain Ground

Posted on September 3, 2026 by David Armstrong

Homeschool legal protections moved forward in 2026 through a mix of federal recognition efforts and state-level rule changes. For parents, the practical question is not only whether a bill sounds friendly to homeschooling. The real question is how a law affects graduation records, college aid forms, withdrawal procedures, privacy, and the daily confidence families need to educate children at home.

As a homeschooling advocate, I see these developments as a … Read the rest

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Colorado Homeschool Enrichment After ERBOCES

Posted on September 3, 2026 by Miles Hawthorne

Colorado Homeschool Enrichment entered a new phase after the dissolution of Education reEnvisioned BOCES, known as ERBOCES, before the 2026-27 school year. For families, the change is not only a policy story. It affects where children gather for part-time learning, whether programs can be funded, and how parents plan reading, arts, science, language, and community experiences around a home education plan.

As a literacy coach, I look at these changes … Read the rest

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ROAR dyslexia screener and K-12 Literacy

Posted on September 2, 2026 by Miles Hawthorne

The ROAR dyslexia screener has drawn attention from K-12 literacy teams because it connects early reading screening with a format that is automated, scalable, and usable across grade levels. For families and educators, the promise is practical: identify students who may need extra support sooner, then connect that information to instruction, intervention, and clear communication at home.

ROAR stands for Rapid Online Assessment of Reading. According to Stanford, ROAR has … Read the rest

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