Drawing on the rich cultural and linguistic assets of Marylanders, MILE seeks to build a world where literacy is a catalyst for transformative social change and equitable opportunities

About

The Maryland Initiative for Literacy & Equity (MILE), funded by the Grand Challenges Grants Program, is a partnership between the University of Maryland and Morgan State University. The one-of-a-kind initiative is comprised of faculty from eight units across five colleges and two universities, with the shared goal of advancing literacy and equity.

MILE harnesses research-practice partnerships in various fields, including education and speech pathology, to address systemic literacy challenges. Initiative focuses go beyond siloed approaches to literacy, spanning from brain research to professional training for educators and policymakers. Our mission is to build full and equitable access to literacy, in order to empower all Marylanders at every stage of life.

President Pines visits local dual language school with MILE leadership

MILE serves as an international center of scholarship in language development, literacy development, and disability in Maryland through four foundational Pillars: Education, Policy & Outreach, Professional Development, and Research.

To address each Pillar, MILE established four Pillar Institutes built around its key stakeholder groups: scholars, undergraduate and graduate students, literacy professionals, communities and families, and policymakers. Click below to learn more about each pillar.

Pillars

What We Do

MILE supports and collaborates with schools, districts, government agencies, community-based organizations, and more. Support is tailored to each organization’s needs and goals, as well as MILE’s areas of expertise. While MILE offers a variety of resources, we are always exploring new opportunities to build equitable literacy through support and partnerships. If you have an idea, reach out!

Read more about how to partner with MILE below.

  • Click here to complete our affiliation form and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all things MILE

    Attend or present at MILE-sponsored webinars and events.

  • Participate in literacy professional development based on research and each organization's goals. Professional development is done through cost-sharing partnerships.

    Meet with university-based scholars for thought-partnership regarding your organization's literacy problem of practice, grants, or initiatives.

    Collaborate with MILE to recruit volunteers for the organization's literacy programming.

  • Partner with MILE to secure funding for shared initiatives.

    Receive support when compiling the latest research related to the organization's literacy and equity work.

    Participate in MILE's policy and outreach efforts to advocate for equitable literacy.

    Partner with MILE to conduct meaningful and equitable literacy research that directly benefits one's community.

  • MILE's expertise includes but is not limited to:

    Early childhood through adult language and literacy development & instruction 

    Multilingual learners, bilingualism/biliteracy, dual language 

    Speech and language pathology

    Literacy for neurodiverse learners

    Library science and digital literacy

    Education policy creation & advocacy

    Community and stakeholder engagement

Amanda Cataneo, Ph.D.

Program Manager for Professional Development

As we continue to build capacity and expand our reach, MILE looks forward to providing additional expertise, relevant to our four foundational pillars: Education, Policy & Outreach, Professional Development, and Research. To learn more about our resources, contact Amanda Cataneo at acataneo@umd.edu.