Dr. Peggy Hickman, associate professor of Education, served as a panelist for the “Knowledge and Practice Standards Symposium,” hosted by Read by 4th and the Pennsylvania Branch of the International Dyslexia Association at Temple University on April 15.

Aligned with the movement in the School District of Philadelphia to improve literacy rates for young students, the symposium addressed needs of students with dyslexia to create accessible educational environments.

Comprised of more than 90 organizations, Philadelphia’s Read by 4th efforts aim to increase the number of students entering fourth grade at an appropriate reading level by 2020. Objectives of Read by 4th include expanding summer educational opportunities, improving school attendance rates, and equipping educators with tools for literacy instruction.