As part of SDP’s early literacy initiative, all elementary schools serving kindergarten through third-grade students have a full-time Early Literacy Specialist coach (ELS). ELS coaches support K-3 students by promoting research-based literacy teaching practices; improving teacher content knowledge, classroom environments, and classroom structure; and providing content-focused coaching and resources. Implementation of this initiative began in a cohort model: 40 schools received a full-time ELS in 2015-16, 53 schools received an ELS in 2016-17, and the remaining 56 schools received an ELS in 2017-18. In summer 2018, ORE surveyed the principals of these schools about their experiences with ELS coaches. This brief focuses on two guiding questions:
- What percentage of schools experienced ELS coach turnover since 2015-16?
- To what extent do principals view ELS coach turnover as a challenge to the success of the early literacy initiative?
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