Connecting the “How” and the “Why” of Literacy Implementation Nationwide

The opening session of Lexia®’s Spring 2026 Science of Reading Week featured a conversation between Lexia’s Senior Education Advisor, Kerri Larkin, and José Viana, Ed.D. (Former Deputy Secretary and Director of the Office of English Language Acquisition at the U.S. Department of Education), on the question so many school and district leaders are wrestling with right now: 

How do you move from science of reading policy to sustained classroom practice?

With literacy mandates shifting, districts across the country need clear guidance on how to make science of reading instruction impactful in their classrooms. After sharing his personal journey from multilingual learner to leading education policy for multilingual learners nationwide, Viana went straight to what’s working, sharing how leaders are translating policy changes into instruction that holds up over time.

Alignment came up early and often. The two talked through how districts that tie state requirements directly to what’s happening in classrooms tend to get better, more reliable results. 

They explored what that actually takes: picking the right professional learning model, making sure principals, coaches, and teachers are all talking about literacy in the same way, and putting structures in place that don’t fall apart when a key leader moves on.

The conversation also tackled a challenge most leaders know well: too many competing priorities and not enough clarity about where to focus. Larkin and Viana shared how administrators in their networks are sizing up their current literacy programs, comparing notes with peers in other states, and making honest calls about what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to go.

Whether you’re responsible for one classroom, one school, or dozens of schools, this session is worth your time. It offers a wide-angle view of how the best-performing districts are turning policy, guidance, and practice into real instructional change.