Unlocking Literacy 2026: Strengthening Reading Instruction Through Evidence-Based Practice
“The joy in the room was apparent. It felt like an authentic opportunity for teachers to connect and learn together,” said Susan Devetski, director of the Robinson Community Learning Center and participant in the 2025 Unlocking Literacy Symposium at the University of Notre Dame. This annual gathering of researchers and educators, hosted by the Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI), is made possible by a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment. The three-year grant focuses on strengthening reading instruction for students in Indiana by enhancing educators' exposure to evidence-based instructional methods. The Unlocking Literacy Symposium provides an opportunity to help educators bridge the gap between practice and research in the Science of Reading.
The Science of Reading is an interdisciplinary body of research attentive to how children learn to read, with important implications for the teaching of reading and writing in classrooms. Because it is an evidence-based approach, it is essential to connect educators with the research in ways that honor both what we know and what we are still learning. "People sometimes hear 'science of reading' and assume it's a fixed recipe," says Nicole McNeil, Sweeney Family Director of the Center for Educational Research and Action at the IEI. "But science isn't a recipe. It's a systematic way of asking questions and building knowledge. That's why we host speakers who approach the research from different angles. They don't always agree on everything, but they share a commitment to evidence and to continual learning. We want educators to see that healthy debate is a key part of the scientific process."
The 2026 symposium will welcome keynote speaker Tim Shanahan, Ph.D., an authority on literacy education and reading achievement. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from Dr. Shanahan through his presentation, as well as participate in a question-and-answer session designed to engage the audience and help them move theory into practice. Practical application will continue through small group sessions tailored to different levels of instruction. Participants will leave the symposium with a framework for planning literacy and language arts lessons that incorporate the Science of Reading principles in their own classrooms.
Bringing educators and administrators from the local community to learn together is an important aspect of the symposium. “The community connection should not be overlooked,” says Kati Macaluso, academic director of the ACE Teaching Fellows, a program at the IEI, and organizer of the event. Participants in the symposium workshops are connected with reputable classroom teachers in the community, working and learning together. “It truly is a collaborative effort,” says Macaluso.
The IEI is deeply committed to collaboration. Connecting researchers and educators through an interdisciplinary approach that advances the knowledge of how people learn and improves learning environments is the mission of the IEI’s new Center for Educational Research and Action (Era). Through research training, signature projects, and special events, Era provides a bridge between research and practice, advancing the exploration of important questions in education. The Unlocking Literacy Symposium is just one way that Era is working to accomplish this mission. “Too often we hear that research is disconnected from daily practice,” said Matt Kloser, Hackett Family Director of the IEI. “Era’s intentional commitment to bringing evidence-based ideas to those working directly with youth is a counterpoint to this narrative as these experiences create a fertile seedbed for high-quality instruction and new questions for the field.”
Macaluso says that the joy and optimism present at last year’s symposium remain the goal as the IEI prepares to welcome this year’s participants. “We look forward to supporting educators in the South Bend community and beyond at this year’s Unlocking Literacy Symposium, providing a mutually beneficial and collaborative environment for all to learn and advance in the application of the Science of Reading, helping students, which, in turn, helps the community.”
Join us for the 2026 Unlocking Literacy Symposium
Monday, March 23, 2026
Remick Commons, Visitation Hall
University of Notre Dame
8:30 am - 2:30 pm
