We can meet Evanson’s goal of ensuring that all students become proficient readers and college and career ready by the time they reach twelfth grade.
Illiteracy is a nationwide problem, and ETHS is taking initiative in tackling the issue.
The collaboration between Districts 65 and 202 seems to be at an all time high. There are plans to implement a literacy improvement program starting in pre-K that will continue through twelfth grade.
Next year, Scott Bramley, current English Dept. Chair, and Kiwana Brown, school-wide reading specialist, will head an initiative to give students a set of skills that will help them think critically and write proficiently. They will advise a committee of teachers and department chairs in brainstorming strategies to improve literacy district-wide.
The idea originally stemmed from a joint committee made up of board members from Districts 65 and 202, who plan to share responsibility for student literacy.
In order to achieve literacy objectives, Bramley will become the Associate Principle of Disciplinary Literacy.
Disciplinary literacy is the concept that there is a certain set of skills needed to think critically, read, write and problem solve in each discipline.
We at The Evanstonian believe that this literacy initiative is true a major goal at ETHS: equipping students for success later in life.