Early Literacy Education

There’s a common narrative that it’s essentially 'game over' for students who enter secondary school without foundational literacy and numeracy skills – but new research has shown it’s not too late to change their trajectory.

Released today, a report from Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) proposes a ‘promising’ model secondary schools can adopt in order to best support students struggling in these critical domains. 

AERO program director and former teacher Daniel Carr told EducationHQ a ‘multi-tiered system of supports’ (MTSS) framework offered an evidence-backed solution. 

“Our research does show that it's not too late for these students," Carr said. 

“If you use the right instructional practices, you can still get improvements in their reading, writing and mathematics. 

“And so, it isn't the case that there's nothing that can be done, there are things that can be done, and our resources give schools an orientation and start developing their understanding of what the approach that will serve success looks like,” Carr said.

One in five Australian students enter high school three or more years behind their peers in literacy or numeracy achievement, the report flagged. 

And while just over half of teachers and school leaders believe their schools are able to consistently provide support for these children, more than two in five are not confident the intervention they offer is even effective, an AERO survey showed. 

Support was also found to vary significantly between schools.

While some offer targeted supports and have clear strategies in place, others make ‘ad hoc’ decisions that are based on student preference, teacher availability and personal expertise, the survey found. 

Carr said the results clearly indicate that secondary schools need more guidance in this area. 

“What that shows to us, is that there's still some uncertainties about what support looks like when it's effective – that secondary schools have question marks about how to do it effectively, what it looks like, how to target and identify which students need support, and then what support programs to put in place.”

It’s a widespread problem across the country, Carr indicated.

“I think part of the challenge [is] secondary school teachers [are] not trained to address some of these gaps, because it’s assumed some of these skills in reading, writing and mathematics have been mastered or comprehensively understood by the time students enter secondary school…” 

This is where the MTSS approach steps in, he noted. 

Described as a ‘decision making tool’ to guide intervention and instructional practices, an MTSS model stresses:

• Using teaching practices for all students that have been proven to work, such as explicit instruction.
• Regular testing of all students to identify specific gaps in learning.
• Interventions (delivered in small group teaching or 1:1 tuition formats) that are proven to be effective and that address specific learning gaps. 
• Continuous review of student progress through assessment data to ensure interventions deliver actual gains.

“It's high-quality instruction for students; regular screening of students to identify who has gaps and what they look like if they are there; bringing into place interventions to fix those and to target those gaps; and then monitoring those interventions and tweaking them if they're not showing the desired level of progress,” Carr elaborated. 

AERO’s research, conducted with Monash University, found that explicit instruction was “one of the most beneficial” instructional practices that teachers can use to support secondary students with low levels of literacy or numeracy, Carr added. 

MTSS is an evolution of the RTI model – currently used in some Australian primary schools – that also draws in behaviour and engagement support.

International findings paint an encouraging picture of its impact, the expert said. 

“When it's been used in internationally for primary schools, it’s led to more students basically beating expected literacy (and) numeracy outcomes.

“And more importantly, it also means that there are fewer ... students who are being referred into a special school or special school programs. 

“So, it's actually been shown that this approach is useful for accommodating a wide variety of students within a mainstream school setting as well,” Carr said. 

AERO CEO Dr Jenny Donovan said the research offered an “exciting opportunity” for schools to look into implementing MTSS.

“MTSS offers a way forward for schools and education systems to reduce the number of struggling students who leave schools without the literacy and numeracy skills required to fully participate in society,” she noted. 

Carr said the potential consequences for these students were well documented. 

“We know that when kids come into secondary schools with a level of literacy or numeracy below these minimum standards, it's difficult for them to engage fully in the secondary curriculum. 

“That means there are likely impacts on their levels of engagement in class, ultimately, that can manifest in lower attendance throughout secondary school, lower chances of completing secondary school, and then it has implications in terms of their job and further education opportunities after school.”

The project is ongoing, with AERO set to release more specific recommendations and guidance to schools later this year. 

“What we're hoping to get to by the end of this year is a really comprehensive package of resources and guidance…” Carr said. 

“There is some more work to be done, but we're really excited to be getting this initial set of research and guidance out today.”