Reading, Reality-Check Rating, and See-It Score — Top 3 Posts for 2024
Recapping 2024 and preparing for 2025
Education Dispatch debuted 10 months ago and it has been exciting to see discussion sparked by the posts online and in real life about the issues that emerge as policymakers seek to improve the education for young people in this country.
The top three posts of 2024 focused on literacy instruction, implementing and scaling programs, and connecting with the day-to-day realities of schooling in the United States to support stronger results for learners. In 2025, as policymakers grapple with low student performance, more constrained budgets, and continued questions about the fundamental purpose of education and its delivery to students nationwide, these topics will continue to be pertinent.
Top 3 Posts
How do you know if your school will teach your child to read?
This was the post that launched Education Dispatch and, in keeping with ongoing interest in literacy in schools nationwide, it was the most viewed. Despite adoption of new curricula in many districts that are more aligned with the science of reading, there continue to be challenges in this space and there likely will be more to explore here. The title question continues to be one that comes up in regular conversations with parents.
This piece asserts that there needs to be more focus on implementation, which could be facilitated by assessing interventions with a “reality-check rating” before scaling. The premise is that policy makers, philanthropy and others frequently fail to consider sufficiently how hard something will be to do and often neglect to take into account real-world conditions in classrooms. In 2025, this concept will likely be more pertinent than ever before, as the nation continues to grapple with how to address historically low scores, including on the international assessment TIMSS — and potentially other assessments. (The Nation’s Report Card, or NAEP scores, will be released in January, so stay tuned.)
“How many school visits, program visits, or site visits to see nonprofits or other partners in action have I been on over the past year?” This post posed this question and suggested an approach to calculating a “See-It Score.” It also recommended setting a goal for 2025. Now is the perfect time to commit to seeing the work in action more in the upcoming year. Alongside your other goals, make your See-It Score goal. And let me know what you learn when you get out there!
Catchy Catchphrases Catch Eyes
Top posts 2 and 3 were from the past three months, at least partly reflecting increased subscribers over time (although the piece related to Decorative Gourds was also this fall and not as much of a hit). Education Dispatch hit 100 subscribers a month ago and subscription numbers continue to increase.
The success of those two posts in particular might also be attributed to the catchy phrases in the titles that represent a specific, tactical approach to addressing diffuse issues. Or possibly the lure of the switch to capitalization in titles.
Giving Thanks
Thanks to all of you who have subscribed this year, whether via LinkedIn, email outreach, or, even while killing time while our children were at a dance class. Thanks also to The Education Daly and Eduwonk for the referrals and for being part of the inspiration for this Substack.
The intent of Education Dispatch is to share ideas that can be used and built upon by others to continue to strengthen education and social impact efforts. That can’t happen without all of you — so thank you for reading!
What’s Next?
In 2025, the plan is for an increase in posting frequency. Be on the lookout for content related to jobs of the future and how that relates to K12 learners today, teacher job roles, and more.
P.S. Why Education Dispatch?
The name Education Dispatch is in tribute to my roots as a college journalist, along with my love for Wes Anderson movies like The French Dispatch, which capture the imagination and spark new ideas and connections. I hope to live up to the inspiration.