Literacy Systems Snapshot

What the Snapshot Is (and Is Not)

It is:

• An external, qualitative analysis grounded in district context

• A way to surface patterns that are difficult to see from within the system

• A tool for sensemaking, prioritization, and decision support

It is not:

• A program evaluation checklist

• A compliance audit

• A curriculum adoption recommendation

• A one-size-fits-all framework

The purpose is clarity—not urgency.

What the Work Focuses On

Each Snapshot examines how four interrelated dimensions shape literacy outcomes:

1. Instruction
   How Tier 1 literacy instruction is experienced across classrooms, and how differentiation is functioning in practice.

2. Curriculum
   How adopted programs are implemented, adapted, or supplemented—and how consistently students experience them over time.

3. Assessment
   How screening, benchmarking, and progress monitoring data are used (or misused) to inform instruction and MTSS decisions.

4. Organization
   How staffing models, schedules, transitions, and communication structures support—or constrain—coherent literacy support.

Rather than treating these as separate problems, the Snapshot examines how they interact.

How the Snapshot Works

Most Literacy Systems Snapshots take 4–6 weeks and include:

• Review of existing district documents, data summaries, and instructional materials

• Structured listening sessions with a cross-section of stakeholders
  (e.g., classroom teachers, interventionists, specialists, administrators)

• Analysis of patterns across grade levels and service tiers

• Synthesis of findings into a concise, leader-facing narrative

No classroom observations are required, and no additional data collection systems are introduced.

What Districts Receive

District leaders receive:

• A clear, accessible written brief designed for leadership teams

• A synthesis of key patterns, tensions, and leverage points

• Distinctions between surface-level symptoms and underlying system issues

• Evidence-informed recommendations focused on alignment and sustainability

• Support for deciding what to address first—and what can wait

The deliverable is intended to be used, discussed, and revisited—not shelved.

When a Literacy Systems Snapshot Is Most Helpful

Districts often seek this work when they are experiencing:

• High or increasing Tier 2 and Tier 3 intervention caseloads

• Confusion about whether challenges are instructional, curricular, or structural

• Assessment fatigue without instructional clarity

• Uneven implementation across buildings or grade spans

• Persistent literacy concerns at key transition points (e.g., Grade 3 or middle school entry)

In many cases, leaders already sense where the friction is. The Snapshot helps confirm, clarify, and contextualize those instincts.

Why a Qualitative Approach

Quantitative data can show where problems appear.
Qualitative inquiry helps explain why they persist.

By listening carefully to how educators describe their work—and how those descriptions align or conflict across roles—the Snapshot surfaces the assumptions, constraints, and workarounds that shape daily practice.

Insight emerges not from adding more initiatives, but from seeing existing ones more clearly.

Next Steps

If you are considering a Literacy Systems Snapshot, an initial conversation typically focuses on:

• your district’s current questions and pressures,

• the scope and timeline that would be most useful,

• and whether this kind of inquiry aligns with your goals.

This work is intentionally selective and collaborative. It is designed for districts ready to slow down long enough to see clearly.