Dr. Emily J. Doolittle
(202) 219-1201
Emily.Doolittle@ed.gov

Through its research program on Reading and Writing (Read/Write), the Institute intends to contribute to improvement of reading and writing skills by: (1) exploring malleable factors¹ (e.g., children's behaviors, instructional practices) that are associated with better reading or writing outcomes as well as mediators and moderators of the relations between these practices and student outcomes, for the purpose of identifying potential targets of intervention; (2) developing innovative curricula or instructional approaches for teaching individuals reading or writing skills or for addressing the underlying causes of reading or writing difficulties (e.g., poor oral language skills); (3) evaluating the efficacy of fully developed curricula or instructional approaches for teaching reading or writing skills, or for reducing/preventing reading or writing difficulties through efficacy or replication trials; (4) evaluating the impact of curricula or instructional approaches for teaching reading or writing skills that are implemented at scale; and (5) developing and/or validating assessments of reading or writing that can be used by practitioners to support instruction.

The long-term outcome of this program will be an array of tools and strategies (e.g., assessments, instructional approaches) that have been documented to be effective for improving reading and writing.