Vermont Blueprint to Close the Achievement Gap
On January 17, 2012 representatives from education, business, public policy, legislation, and research convened around the Vermont Blueprint to Close the Achievement Gap, a seminal initiative developed to help Vermont’s struggling readers.
Governor Peter Shumlin, who has spoken of his personal history as a struggling reader, acknowledged the importance of closing the achievement gap and Vermont’s unique readiness to bring this about. The Roll Out event included a Call-to-Action Panel of key representatives charged with framing issues and inviting commitments from participants to maintain this essential effort. Susan Bartlett, Assistant to the Governor, requested recommendations for the Governor from this Call-to-Action Panel to move the State toward full implementation of the Blueprint. International reading expert G. Reid Lyon, Ph.D., of Southern Methodist University and University of Texas-Dallas, and Stern Center for Language and Learning Board Member keynoted the event where participants explored the changes necessary to ensure that all Vermont students are effective readers.
Stern Center President Blanche Podhajski set the tone for the Blueprint work: “The weight of evidence is clear as to what children need to learn to read. We know what to do; we now need to do it.”
The Vermont Blueprint to Close the Achievement Gap was initiated by the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation through a grant to the Stern Center for Language and Learning. The Blueprint promotes the implementation of best practices, capitalizes on Vermont’s educational resources, responds to the state’s unique educational challenges, and develops solutions that involve education, business, and government in partnership with families.
Blueprint collaborators include the Stern Center for Language and Learning, Vermont Department of Education, Vermont Business Roundtable, Vermont Superintendents Association, Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators, Vermont Principals’ Association, Vermont School Boards Association, and the Vermont-National Education Association.
Call-To-Action Panel
Martha Allen
President of Vermont-National Education Association
Susan Bartlett
Special Assistant to the Governor
Douglas Racine
Secretary of Vermont Agency of Human Services
Elaine Pinckney
Superintendent of CSSU
Lisa Ventriss
President of Vermont Business Roundtable
Vermont Blueprint to Close the Achievement Gap materials:
Vermont Blueprint to Close the Achievement Gap
Dr. G. Reid Lyon Powerpoint
January 17, 2012 Agenda
The Blueprint in the news:
WCAX News Clip Jan. 17, 2012
VTDigger.org Feb. 14, 2012
Brattleboro Reformer Feb. 15, 2012
Additional information will continuously be added as the Vermont Blueprint to Close the Achievement Gap continues.
Do you have a question, comment, or want to know more?
Contact Sandy Rendall, Stern Center Marketing and Communications Manager at 802-878-2332.
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About the Presenter
G. Reid Lyon, Ph.D.
- Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean
- Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development Southern Methodist University (SMU)
Joint Appointment:
- Distinguished Scientist in Cognition and Neuroscience Center for Brain Health University of Texas, Dallas (UTD)
- Co-founder of Synergistic Education Solutions
- For publications, CV, and more information visit: www.ReidLyon.com
Prior to his academic appointments at SMU and the Center for Brain Health (UTD), Dr. Lyon served as a research psychologist and the Chief of the Child Development and Behavior Branch within the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 2001 to 2005. He was responsible for the direction, development, and management of research programs in developmental and cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, behavioral pediatrics, reading development and disabilities, learning disabilities, early childhood development, and school readiness. While at the National Institute of Health, Dr. Lyon worked closely with the White House, the U.S. Department of Education, and Congress on the development of evidence-based education policy. From 2001 until 2005, he served as an advisor on education research and policies to President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush in addition to directing his programs at the NIH. Dr. Lyon testified numerous times before U.S. Senate and House committees, addressing issues related to the role of neuroscience in education, the need for scientific research to guide educational practices and policies, evidence-based teacher education, early childhood development, learning disabilities, reading development and reading disorders, the re-authorization of Head Start, and the re-authorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). He co-authored the Reading First Legislation. In 2006, Dr. Lyon was named one of the ten most influential people in American education during the last decade by the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center (Education Week) for his work in ensuring that scientific research occupies a central role in educational practices and policy.
Dr. Lyon received his Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico in 1978 with a dual concentration in Special Education (Learning Disorders and Disabilities) and psychology (developmental neuropsychology) (5-year doctoral program). He has served on the faculties of the University of Alabama -Birmingham (Special Education and Educational Psychology), Northwestern University (Communication Science and Disorders; Director of the Neuropsychology Laboratory), and the University of Vermont School Of Medicine (Neurology).
Dr. Lyon has authored, co-authored, and edited more than 130 peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and book chapters on developmental neuroscience, learning differences and disabilities, reading and reading difficulties, and educational policy. He currently serves as the Co-Editor in Chief of the Annals of Dyslexia. He has served as a psychologist, third-grade classroom teacher and a special educator in the public schools.
Dr. Lyon served as a U.S. Army paratrooper and is a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. He served for 18 months as a Recon Sergeant in the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division from 1968 to 1970. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and the Combat Infantry Badge among numerous other decorations.