What happens at the intersection of law and literacy? 

In this All for Literacy episode, Dr. Liz Brooke breaks down literacy policy at the state level with Dr. Kymyona Burk, a longtime advocate of establishing the science of reading in schools across her home state of Mississippi and beyond. 

Burk currently serves as senior policy fellow for early literacy at ExcelinEd, an organization dedicated to advancing a broad range of student-centered policy solutions nationwide. Previously, Burk served as executive director for the Jackson Public School District’s Office of Teaching and Learning in Mississippi and as the state literacy director at the Mississippi Department of Education.

Brooke and Burk dive into how state policy affects classroom-level activities, how to best implement new changes in educational law, and the differences between literacy instruction in early education versus at the middle or high school level. Walk away with the knowledge of how to best empower teachers and educators to implement and adapt to changes in state and countrywide policies on literacy instruction. 

Episode Breakdown

(00:52) – Kymyona Burk’s journey into education

(04:48) – How literacy instruction shifts for middle and high school students

(11:13) – Burk’s experience as state literacy director

(13:59) – Effective policy implementation

(21:27) – The science of reading as a genuine literacy movement

(26:28) – Empowering educators to implement new policy

(34:34) – Literacy assessment and reporting

(41:23) – Policy and older students

(43:54) – The future of the science of reading

About Dr. Kymyona Burk 

As senior policy fellow for early literacy at ExcelinEd, Kymyona Burk helps states establish comprehensive approaches to K–3 reading policies. Previously, Burk served as executive director for the Jackson Public School District’s Office of Teaching and Learning in Mississippi and as the state literacy director at the Mississippi Department of Education. Bringing classroom experience to policy development, she began her career as an elementary reading teacher and taught middle and high school English. 

Mentioned in this Episode:

Dr. Kymyona Burk, Twitter, @kymyona_burk

Dr. Liz Brooke, Twitter @LizCBrooke

ExcelinEd

Mississippi's Literacy-Based Promotion Act

Florida’s Third-Grade Literacy Law

Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS)

“Hard Words: Why Aren’t Our Kids Being Taught to Read,” Emily Hanford, APM Reports

“Sold A Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong,” Emily Hanford, APM Reports

“Why Some Teacher’s Unions Oppose ‘Science of Reading’ Legislation,” Sarah Schwartz and Madeline Will, Ed Week

“Kentucky is stuck in an early literacy crisis: What it can do to change course,” Mandy McLaren, Louisville Courier Journal

“After Courier Journal investigation, lawmakers vote to ax contract with literacy center,” Mandy McLaren, Louisville Courier Journal

Virginia’s Literacy Act

Join our community of listeners and never miss an episode. Subscribe to All of Literacy today!