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Delaware education leaders push statewide implementation of 'science of reading' with teacher supports
Summary
Secretary Martin and district and charter leaders at a Department of Education panel emphasized daily reading time, teacher coaching and data‑driven instruction as the state moves from legislation to classroom implementation of the science of reading.
Secretary Cindy Martin, Delaware’s secretary of education, told educators at a state professional‑learning panel that a statewide literacy plan must be paired with sustained support for teachers to reach every student.
“Programs don’t teach. Teachers do,” Secretary Martin said, urging districts and charters to “protect daily reading time like it’s sacred” and to use data to see whether instruction is working. She said the state will provide professional learning and coaching tied to classroom practice rather than one‑off training.
The session included Dr. Durell Green, superintendent of Red Clay Consolidated School District, who described a district approach that pairs vetted instructional materials with ongoing job‑embedded coaching and regular progress monitoring. Green said Delaware’s recent legislation — referenced in the discussion as House Bill 304 and Senate Bill 4 — helped codify the state’s emphasis on the science of reading and that schools are using tools such as 95% Phonics, University of Florida literacy supports and Acadience assessments to monitor student progress.
Margie Lopez Waite, founder and CEO of Espira Charter School, said charters and districts can share goals while preserving local decision‑making. Waite described a K–12 literacy vision at her dual‑language school that aims for bilingual biliteracy and stressed piloting materials and collecting teacher feedback before large adoptions.
All panelists returned to a common theme: implementation rests on adults. Green and Waite urged investments in teacher onboarding, collaborative planning time and coaching cycles so that teachers can adapt materials to real classrooms. Martin said the Department will focus on systems that surface bright spots and pain points and support leaders in scaling successful practice.
The panel also noted partnerships the state and districts are using for professional learning and coaching (cited in the session: SchoolKit, Reading Assist and the New Teacher Center). Martin closed by asking educators to track growth by student and subgroup, celebrate wins and pivot when data show instruction is not meeting learners’ needs.
The panel wrapped as attendees moved to follow‑up professional learning sessions and online materials provided by the Department of Education.
