Literacy Review and Expertise From Simone Gibson Featured in Baltimore Banner
News regarding MILE’s work was featured in the Baltimore Banner, alongside expertise from MILE Co-director Simone Gibson. The article, titled “Maryland schools need more CRT. It’s not what you think it is,” discusses the statewide literacy review completed in a collaboration between MILE and the Maryland State Department of Education.
The Baltimore Banner reports that the review, organized by MILE, aimed to evaluate how well Maryland schools were implementing the science of reading—a method grounded in brain science—while also incorporating CRT strategies. Simone Gibson, a director at MILE, highlighted that many Maryland teachers were unfamiliar with CRT, which seeks to connect students' cultural experiences and identities with their learning to make lessons more engaging.
“...many Maryland teachers didn’t know what culturally responsive teaching was, said Simone Gibson, one of the directors of the Maryland Initiative for Literacy & Equity, or MILE.”
The evaluation revealed that while the science of reading and CRT are complementary, aligning them effectively was a challenge in many schools. Gibson emphasized that CRT isn't just about addressing the needs of marginalized or minority students but about helping all students relate to lessons in a meaningful way.
Article by Kristen Griffith | December 24th, 2024
