Brandi Lawson
The Reading League Summit 2026
Registration is now closed as we welcome attendees to Syracuse for this year’s event.
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WE ARE ALL BETTER WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER
#TRLSummit2026 is headed to Syracuse, New York! Join a community of educators, researchers, and leaders committed to understanding and using literacy data to transform student outcomes.
Over two powerful days, we’ll:
- Dispel misconceptions about literacy assessment and data use.
- Explore the latest research from the nation’s leading experts.
- Translate numbers into action so every student receives instruction aligned to their needs.
When we move from confusion to clarity, we unlock the power to teach with purpose, precision, and impact.
Our 2026 Keynote
Reading Assessment: Why We Do the Things We Do
Christopher Schatschneider, a leading expert in educational psychology and Associate Director of the Florida Center for Reading Research, brings his deep knowledge of reading development and assessment to The Reading League Summit with an engaging opening keynote. With decades of experience at the intersection of research, measurement, and instruction, Schatschneider will walk participants through essential lessons learned through the history of reading assessment. Blending insight with humor and clarity, he will highlight how shifts in assessment practices have impacted classroom instruction—and what educators can take away to inform their own teaching today. This session will bridge research and practice, helping us understand where reading assessment has been, where it’s going—and why it matters for our students.
Why Attend the Summit
- Engage directly with leading assessment researchers and practitioners in various school roles who have deep knowledge of the science of reading.
- Gain practical tools to better interpret and apply literacy data to accelerate your students’ growth in reading.
- Network with peers, district leaders, and national experts – be a part of a community committed to implementing effective reading instruction.
- Leave with knowledge to create an effective, efficient, and comprehensive reading assessment system for your classroom, school, or district.
Don’t miss this opportunity to bring your school team together to examine assessment practices through a research-based lens. You’ll leave equipped to confidently select reading assessments, analyze student and system data, and lead effective school data meetings—turning information into instructional impact that directly benefits your students.
The Panels
Taking Action on Classroom Data
Moderator:
Margaret Goldberg
Panelists:
Matt Burns, Tiffany Hogan, and Sarah Siegal
Classroom assessment data should do more than describe students’ reading skills—it should drive instruction. This panel will explore how educators can collect and interpret data that captures both word recognition and language comprehension skills. Panelists will discuss how to analyze Tier 1 data, design class-wide interventions, and plan for small-group instruction that focuses on decoding, language, and comprehension skills. As an elementary literacy coach, Moderator Margaret Goldberg will guide the conversation toward practical approaches for making assessment efficient, meaningful, and instructionally relevant.
Taking Action on Student Data
Moderator:
Sarah Brown
Panelists:
Lillian Durán, Jessica Toste, and Mark Shinn
Effective data use begins with understanding the learner behind the numbers. This panel will explore how educators can interpret and act on student-level data in ways that are both equitable and instructionally sound. Moderator Sarah Brown will guide panelists in discussing how to consider students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds when interpreting screening results, integrate progress monitoring with classroom formative assessments, and match students to texts for various instructional purposes. Participants will gain practical insights for translating assessment data into responsive and inclusive teaching decisions.
Taking Action on District Data
Moderator:
Brian McMahon
Panelists:
Kelly Powell-Smith, Kim St. Martin, and Alex Shelton
District-level assessment data can guide strategic decisions, but only when systems capture the right information and interpret it thoughtfully. This panel, moderated by Brian McMahon, Director of Accountability and Research at Indian River School District, will take a leadership-focused perspective on building effective and efficient assessment systems. Assessment experts will join him to explore how to select valid and reliable tools to build a cohesive, district-wide system, including research-based guidance on when and how to integrate measures of language.
Taking Action on Policy
Moderator:
Kymyona Burk
Panelists:
Katie Jenner, Jill Pentimonti, and Tim Odegard
Legislation can be a powerful lever for improving literacy outcomes when it’s paired with practical strategies and informed decision-making. In this panel, Moderator Kymyona Burk will lead panelists in a discussion examining how to effectively implement screening legislation, identify gaps in current policies, and leverage existing frameworks to advance literacy. Attendees will gain insights into the intersection of policy, practice, and data, and learn strategies for making legislation work for students and educators.
The 2026 Panels
Taking Action on Classroom Data
Moderator & Panelists:
Margaret Goldberg
Co-Founder,
The Right to Read Project
Matt Burns
Fien Professor of Special Education,
University of Florida
Tiffany Hogan
Professor,
MGH Institute of Health and Professions
Sarah Siegal
Principal Solutions Engineer Instructor
Classroom assessment data should do more than describe students’ reading skills—it should drive instruction. This panel will explore how educators can collect and interpret data that captures both word recognition and language comprehension skills. Panelists will discuss how to analyze Tier 1 data, design class-wide interventions, and plan for small-group instruction that focuses on decoding, language, and comprehension skills. As an elementary literacy coach, Moderator Margaret Goldberg will guide the conversation toward practical approaches for making assessment efficient, meaningful, and instructionally relevant.
Taking Action on Student Data
Moderator & Panelists:
Sarah Brown
President,
System Impact Consulting
Lillian Durán
Professor,
College of Education: Special Education, University of Oregon
Jessica Toste
Associate Professor,
The University of Texas at Austin
Mark Shinn
President,
Data-Based Consulting, Inc.
Effective data use begins with understanding the learner behind the numbers. This panel will explore how educators can interpret and act on student-level data in ways that are both equitable and instructionally sound. Moderator Sarah Brown will guide panelists in discussing how to consider students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds when interpreting screening results, integrate progress monitoring with classroom formative assessments, and match students to texts for various instructional purposes. Participants will gain practical insights for translating assessment data into responsive and inclusive teaching decisions.
Taking Action on District Data
Moderator & Panelists:
Brian McMahon
Director of Accountability & Research,
School District of Indian River County
Kelly Powell-Smith
Professor,
Mount St. Joseph University
Kim St. Martin
Director,
Michigan MTSS Center
Alex Shelton
Assistant Professor,
Johns Hopkins University
District-level assessment data can guide strategic decisions, but only when systems capture the right information and interpret it thoughtfully. This panel, moderated by Brian McMahon, Director of Accountability and Research at Indian River School District, will take a leadership-focused perspective on building effective and efficient assessment systems. Assessment experts will join him to explore how to select valid and reliable tools to build a cohesive, district-wide system, including research-based guidance on when and how to integrate measures of language.
Taking Action on Policy
Moderator & Panelists:
Kymyona Burk
Senior Policy Fellow,
ExcelinEd
Katie Jenner
Indiana Secretary of Education,
State of Indiana
Jill Pentimonti
Associate Research Professor,
University of Notre Dame
Tim Odegard
Professor of Psychology,
Middle Tennessee State University
Legislation can be a powerful lever for improving literacy outcomes when it’s paired with practical strategies and informed decision-making. In this panel, Moderator Kymyona Burk will lead panelists in a discussion examining how to effectively implement screening legislation, identify gaps in current policies, and leverage existing frameworks to advance literacy. Attendees will gain insights into the intersection of policy, practice, and data, and learn strategies for making legislation work for students and educators.
Adrea Truckenmiller
Associate Professor,
Michigan State University
Anita Archer
Educational Consultant,
Anita L. Archer Ph.D. Inc.
New in 2026: Hands-On Data Workshops
At the Summit, participants will engage in interactive data workshops using real K–5 decoding and language comprehension data. Adrea Truckenmiller will guide attendees through analyzing what the numbers reveal about student learning and instructional next steps, while Anita Archer will focus on using instructional data to examine teaching practices and improve outcomes. Teams will leave with practical strategies and shared understanding ready for immediate implementation.
Adrea Truckenmiller
Associate Professor,
Michigan State University
Anita Archer
Educational Consultant,
Anita L. Archer Ph.D. Inc.
New in 2026: Hands-On Data Workshops
At the Summit, participants will engage in interactive data workshops using real K–5 decoding and language comprehension data. Adrea Truckenmiller will guide attendees through analyzing what the numbers reveal about student learning and instructional next steps, while Anita Archer will focus on using instructional data to examine teaching practices and improve outcomes. Teams will leave with practical strategies and shared understanding ready for immediate implementation.
Need Approval to Attend the Summit?
Download a customizable Convince Your Boss Letter that clearly outlines the Summit’s purpose, learning outcomes, and value for classroom, school, and district decision-making.
Summit 2026 Agenda
- Tuesday, May 5
- Wednesday, May 6
- Tuesday, May 5
Day One – May 5
The Oncenter, 800 S. State Street, Syracuse, NY 13202
Outline agenda from 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 6
Day Two – May 6
The Oncenter, 800 S. State Street, Syracuse, NY 13202
Outline agenda from 8:15 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
What Past Attendees Are Saying
Samantha Lasich Caesar
Maya Valencia Goodall, M.Ed., M.A., Chief Strategy Officer, CORE Learning
Matt Hill, CEO at Waterford.org
What is the Summit?
The Reading League’s Summit is a one-of-a-kind national gathering that brings together researchers, practitioners, and literacy leaders to examine a timely topic related to the science of reading. Unlike a traditional conference, the Summit offers an immersive shared experience: panelists elevate research from differing perspectives, unpack points of confusion, and highlight the implications for classroom practice. The 2026 theme, From Confusion to Clarity: Turning Data Into Instructional Impact, will focus on how educators can use data effectively to maximize student learning. Analyzing data from real students and schools will be woven throughout the event, grounding the conversations in authentic contexts. Over two days, everyone is in the same room, learning together as essential questions about reading assessment – drawn directly from the field – are explored and answered. Attendees leave with clarity and confidence to translate insights from data into action, strengthen instructional decision-making, and drive meaningful student outcomes.
View the Agenda
Hotel Accommodations
Book your stay using our unique booking link with our special discounted rates at any of the hotels below.
Marriott Downtown Hotel
Collegian Hotel
Parkview Hotel
Summit 2026 Sponsors
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of registration, and what does it include?
Registration fee: $475.00
Includes:
- Access to all sessions (no need to register for individual sessions)
- Refreshments
- Lunch on May 5 & 6
What payment options are available for registration and sponsorship fees?
We accept all major credit cards.
Email purchase order to Finance@thereadingleague.org
Checks payable to The Reading League and mailed to:
The Reading League
103 Wyoming Street
Second Floor
Syracuse, NY 13204
Can I become a sponsor?
Yes, sponsorship opportunities for the Summit 2026 are available. For details and pricing, contact Madeline Chilbert at Madeline@thereadingleague.org. Sponsorships are limited and sell out quickly.
Are you accepting proposals for sessions?
No, we are not accepting proposals for this event.
Will I receive credit hours for attending?
Yes, all attendees will earn 9.25 credit hours and receive a certificate of completion after the Summit.
Is there a special hotel rate?
Yes, we have 3 different hotel blocks available for this years Summit. Book by April 4, 2026, to lock in the discounted rates. Rooms sell out quickly—reserve early!
- Collegian Hotel – discounted rate of $164 plus tax
- Marriott Downtown – discounted rate of $179 plus tax
I can’t find my registration confirmation email. Where should I look?
Please check your spam folder for an email from Cvent, our event platform. If it’s not there, check with your IT department to ensure Cvent is not blocked.
Confirmation details can also be requested by emailing events@thereadingleague.org.
How can I modify or cancel my registration? Will I get a refund?
Modify or cancel:
Click the modify button found at the bottom of your confirmation email. Enter your email address and confirmation number to change your registration. If your plans change and you would like to transfer your registration to another person, please contact events@thereadingleague.org.
Refunds:
The Reading League will fully refund any cancellations prior to or on April 4, 2026. Cancellations made after April 4 will not be subject to a refund.
Will my dietary restrictions be accommodated?
Yes, upon registration, list any dietary restrictions you have, and we will accommodate them to the best of our ability.
Will there be services available for those with accessibility needs?
Yes, our venue is ADA-compliant. Upon registration, please list any aids or services you may need, and we will accommodate them to the best of our ability.
Where can I find The Reading League’s W-9 Form?
The Reading League’s W-9 form
Have a questions not answered here? Contact The Reading League’s event team at events@thereadingleague.org.
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