SERP News

What we heard, what we’re thinking, and where we’re heading next...

At SXSW EDU this year, we asked a simple question:

Changing Civics Lessons, Social Media Trial, The 90/10 Gap

When Sarah Bleicher introduced STARI Series 4 to her high school reading intervention classes in Waunakee, Wisconsin, she wasn't sure how her students would respond. Would they engage with structured reading instruction? Would the books resonate with teenagers who've struggled with literacy for years?

Redesigning IES, STEM Workforce, Microschools

What Alejandra, Huey, and Elsa Taught Me

Rising Behavioral Problems, How Boys Pull Ahead in Math, DC’s Effort to Boost Math

What's In This Issue: Mid-Year Check-In: What STARI Spotlight Stories Teach Us About Growth Connect With STARI What We've Been Reading

Math Teaching, Older Readers Left Behind, The 5% Problem

Inside Queens Technical High School’s Literacy Turnaround: How STARI Is Helping NYC Teens Thrive

Funding Waivers, Using Math Vocabulary, School Finance Reform

From California to Wisconsin, these facilitators share how they lead STARI professional learning for their colleagues.

12 Charts that Defined Ed. in 2025, The Trump Effect on Education, Top 10 Education Studies of 2025

This past year has been an exciting one at the SERP Institute! Effective partnership work is years in the making, but in 2025, several of these years-long efforts came to fruition.

What's in this issue:

STARI Spotlight: In Prophetstown, Illinois—population 2,000—something remarkable is happening. At Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico 6-12 Campus (PLT) , students who once struggled with reading are experiencing breakthrough growth, thanks to STARI and the dedication of Principal Mrs. Janet Barnhart.

In this episode, host Dr. Kala Jones asks a question that cuts right to the heart of adolescent literacy: What happens when we stop asking "Can they read?" and start asking "Do they see themselves as readers?"

Education Statistics, Phone Bans and Burnout, Building Critical Literacy

At SERP, philanthropy is more than generosity, it’s partnership. It’s the belief that transformative change in education happens when researchers, educators, communities, and funders work side-by-side to solve real problems together.

Exploring the Heart of Middle School through Belonging and Community from Hudson Middle School in Ohio

After reading "Why one reading expert says ‘just-right’ books are all wrong" , I suspect that Shanahan and I agree more than we disagree. However, I worry that - especially because many people don’t read beyond headlines - an important point may be obscured.

Students’ Thoughts on Literacy, Do School Closures Still Matter?, Reality Under Universal School Vouchers

The session titled The Power of Collaboration: Root Cause Analysis provided valuable insights into how collaborative inquiry and structured reflection can drive school improvement and student success. This presentation centered on Parker Junior High School’s ongoing partnership with the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) and its work toward implementing a true middle school framework.

How did you learn to read? At this year’s AMLE Conference, we asked attendees to share a simple but powerful story: How did you learn to read? Their reflections, captured in photos and video, remind us why literacy matters, and why programs like STARI are so important for students who need extra support.

At SERP, we believe middle school students deserve opportunities to engage with the most pressing and relevant issues of their time. That’s why we are so grateful to the Brinson Family Foundation for their generous support for revisions and updates to the WordGen Weekly program.

Making Research Relevant, Girls & STEM: Lost Progress, 3 Waves of School Vouchers

Talk As a Bridge to Understanding

Teacher Evaluations, Shutdown Tracker, Latest Industrial Revolution

Fluency practice doesn't have to be boring!