View the cumulative document containing the questions and answers from all 2025-26 office hours.
2025-26 Meeting Information
| Title | Content | Date |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday August 14, 2025 10:00 a.m. |
| Secondary Reading Success Plans (RSPs) | This Office Hour will highlight key elements of the recently released Reading Success Plan guidance for grades 6-12. Lisa Scroggs, Director of Secondary Literacy, will walk participants through the key components of the 6-12 RSP guidance and answer questions. | Thursday August 21 2025 10:00 am |
| Foundational Reading Assessment | This Office Hour will focus on the K-3 Foundational Reading Assessments. During this hour, Olivia Apsher, Director of Early Literacy, will provide guidance and support regarding the beginning-of-year assessment window. | Thursday August 28 2025 10:00 am |
| Foundational Reading Assessment | This Office Hour will focus on the K-3 Foundational Reading Assessments. During this hour, Olivia Apsher, Director of Early Literacy, will provide guidance and support regarding the beginning-of-year assessment window. | Thursday September 4, 2025 3:15 pm |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday September 11, 2025 10:00 a.m. |
| NO OFFICE HOUR | There is no office hour on this date | Thursday September 18, 2025 10:00 a.m. |
| Reading Success Plans & IEPs | This Office Hour will provide additional information and discussion about Reading Success Plans (RSPs) and IEPs. The Office of Literacy will be presenting alongside the Office of Special Education. Presentation Document, September 25, 2025 | Thursday September 25, 2025 10:00 a.m. |
| Dyslexia in the Classroom: What Every Teacher Needs to Know | During this office hour, the Office of Literacy will share an overview of International Dyslexia Association's (IDA) handbook Dyslexia in the Classroom: What Every Teacher Needs to Know. It was created by IDA to raise awareness, share best practices, and to serve as a resource for school administrators and staff. | Thursday October 2, 2025 3:15 p.m. |
| Q&A | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives | Thursday, October 9, 2025 10:00 a.m. |
| NO OFFICE HOUR | There is no office hour on this date | Thursday, October 16, 2025 10:00 a.m. |
| Dyslexia and Adolescent Literacy | This Office Hour will focus on adolescent dyslexia. Guest presenter, Kim Stuckey (Dyslexia Consultant and Missouri Reading League President), will cover the characteristics of dyslexia and share supports to help students be successful in the classroom. Q&A Document, October 23, 2025 | Thursday, October 23, 2025 10:00 a.m. |
| Q&A | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives | Thursday, October 30, 2025 10:00 a.m. |
| English Learners | This Office Hours will provide additional information and discussion about Reading Success Plans (RSPs) and English Learners. The Office of Literacy will be presenting alongside the Department's English Language Development Director, Cammy Goucher. Q&A Document, November 6, 2025 | Thursday, November 6, 2025 3:15 p.m. |
| NO OFFICE HOUR | There is no office hour on this date | Thursday, November 13, 2025 10:00 a.m. |
| NO OFFICE HOUR | There is no office hour on this date | Thursday, November 20, 2025 10:00 a.m. |
| NO OFFICE HOUR | There is no office hour on this date | Thursday, November 27, 2025 10:00 a.m. |
| Background Knowledge & Vocabulary | This Office Hour will deepen and strengthen participants' knowledge and understanding of background knowledge and vocabulary instruction. Virtual Office Hours Document, December 4, 2025 | Thursday, December 4, 2025 3:15 p.m. |
| NO OFFICE HOUR | There is no office hour on this date. | Thursday, December 11, 2025 10:00 a.m. |
| Question and Answer | This office hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiative. | Thursday, December 18, 2025 10:00 a.m. |
| Language Structures and Verbal Reasoning | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to deepen and strengthen their knowledge and understanding of language structures and verbal reasoning and the role these play in language comprehension. Office Hours Document, January 8, 2026 | Thursday, January 8, 2026 3:15 p.m. |
| NO OFFICE HOUR | There is no office hour on this date. | Thursday, January 15, 2026 10:00 a.m. |
| NO OFFICE HOUR | There is no office hour on this date. | Thursday, January 22, 2026 10:00 a.m. |
| Secondary Reading Intervention Strategies: Tier 1 | What does tier 1 literacy instruction look like in middle school science and social studies classrooms? Teachers Matt Loomis (Bayless Middle School) and Natalie Mummert (East Buchanan Middle School) will share their successful, evidence-based practices during this office hour. | Thursday, January 29, 2026 10:00 a.m. |
| Comprehension | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to deepen and strengthen their knowledge and understanding of comprehension and its connection to Scarborough's Reading Rope. Office Hours Document, February 5, 2026 | Thursday, February 5, 2025 3:15 p.m. |
| NO OFFICE HOUR | There is no office hour on this date. | Thursday, February 12, 2026 10:00 a.m. |
| Secondary Reading Intervention Strategies: Tier 2 | Looking for help with tier 2 scheduling challenges? A panel of classroom teachers and specialists from Missouri middle schools will share their strategies for changing school systems and incorporating tier 2 instruction within the secondary schedule. | Thursday, February 19, 2026 10:00-11:00 a.m. |
| Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiative. | Thursday, February 26, 2026 10:00-11:00 a.m. |
| More Secondary Reading Intervention Strategies: Tier 2 | Looking for strategies to strengthen tier 2 reading instruction? A panel of classroom teachers and specialists from Missouri middle schools will share their successful tier 2 reading interventions during this Office Hour. | Thursday, March 5, 2026 3:15-4:15 p.m. |
| Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiative. | Thursday, March 12, 2026 10:00-11:00 a.m. |
| NO OFFICE HOUR | There is no office hour on this date. | Thursday, March 19, 2026 |
| MAP Reading Assessment 3-8 | DESE Director of English Language Arts Kayla Stewart and Director of Secondary Literacy Lisa Scroggs will talk about the structure and content of the English language arts MAP assessment and how it differs from foundational reading assessments. | Thursday, March 26, 2026 10:00-11:00 a.m. |
| Librarian Partnerships to Support Disciplinary Literacy | Join a panel of librarians from three school districts — Francis Howell, Lee's Summit, and Lindbergh — to see how they have collaborated with teachers in various content areas to promote disciplinary literacy. | Thursday, April 2, 2026 10:00-11:00 a.m. |
| Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiative. | Thursday, April 9, 2026 10:00-11:00 a.m. |
| Aspire® Informational Session | Representatives from Lexia will talk about Aspire®, and DESE Office of Literacy staff will share Missouri-specific information and answer questions. | Thursday, April 30, 2026 10:00-11:00 a.m. |
| Preparing for Next Year's Middle and High School RSPs | What is expected of secondary schools when it comes to reading success plans and reading assessment? Lisa Scroggs, DESE Director of Secondary Literacy, will provide an overview of the essentials and answer questions. | Thursday, May 7, 2026 10:00-11:00 a.m. |
| Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, May 21, 2026 10:00-11:00 a.m. |
| Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, May 28, 2026 10:00-11:00 a.m. |
2024-25 Meeting Information
| Topic | Description | Date and Time |
| K-3 Foundational Reading Assessments: Beginning-of-Year Schedule and Required Components | This Office Hour will focus on the K-3 Foundational Reading Assessments. During this hour, Heather Knight, Coordinator of Literacy, will provide guidance and support regarding the beginning-of-year assessment window. | Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 10:00 AM |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 10:00 AM |
| Reading Success Plans | This Office Hour will focus on Reading Success Plans. During this hour, the Literacy Team will provide guidance and support regarding the components and development of Reading Success Plans (RSPs). | Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 10:00 AM |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 10:00 AM |
| State-Approved Foundational Reading Assessment Vendor Specific Information | This Office Hour will focus on the specific guidance that each of the state-approved foundational reading assessment vendors have for determining RSP eligibility and analyzing beginning-of-year data. During this hour, participants will join break out sessions with their specific vendor and will have an opportunity to ask questions. | Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 10:00 am |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 10:00 am |
| Reading Success Plans and IEPs | This Office Hour will provide additional information and discussion about Reading Success Plans (RSPs) and IEPs. The Office of Literacy will be presenting alongside the Office of Special Education. | Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 10:00 am |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, October 3, 2024 at 10:00 am |
| Reading Success Plans and English Learners | This Office Hour will provide additional information and discussion about Reading Success Plans (RSPs) and English Learners. The Office of Literacy will be presenting alongside the Department’s English Language Development Director. | Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 10:00 am |
| Effective Practices for Struggling Readers with Characteristics of Dyslexia | This office hour will focus on the basics of dyslexia in order to gain a deeper understanding of its impact on learning as well as effective strategies for support. We will cover the characteristics of dyslexia and support to help students be successful in the classroom. | Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 10:00 am |
| Dyslexia: An Asset-Based Approach | This presentation will explore the unique cognitive strengths of dyslexic students, highlighting their exceptional problem-solving abilities, creativity, and innovative thinking. Educators will gain insights into how these strengths can be harnessed to enhance learning environments and support academic success. | Thursday, October 24, 2024 at 10:00 am |
| Dyslexia in the Classroom: What Every Teacher Needs to Know | During this office hour, the Office of Literacy will share an overview of International Dyslexia Association's (IDA) handbook Dyslexia in the Classroom: What Every Teacher Needs to Know. It was created by IDA to raise awareness, share best practices, and to serve as a resource for school administrators and staff. | Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 10:00 am |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. |
| "Ph"un with Phonology | Missouri Literacy K-3 Consultants share an overview of phonological awareness, the science of phonological awareness, and examples of explicit classroom instructional strategies that develop phonological awareness. | Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. |
| Open Q&A | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. |
| Open Q&A | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. |
| Figuring it Out with Phonics | Missouri Literacy Coaches will share an overview of phonics, the science of phonics, and examples of explicit classroom instructional strategies that develop phonics. | Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| Background Knowledge and Vocabulary | This Office Hour will deepen and strengthen participants knowledge and understanding of background knowledge and vocabulary instruction. | Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| Reading Success Plan Data Entry | This Office Hour will provide information and discussion about Core Data and Missouri Student Information System (MOSIS) data entry. | Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| February 20 Q&A Document | ||
| Language Structures and Verbal Reasoning | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to deepen and strengthen participants knowledge and understanding of language structures and verbal reasoning and the role these play in language comprehension. | Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| February 27 Q&A Document February 27 Presentation Slides | ||
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| March 6 Q&A Document | ||
| Aspire® Professional Learning | This Office Hour will provide participants with a deeper understanding of Aspire®, a professional learning opportunity provided by DESE at no-cost to public educators. Appropriate for all 6-9 teachers in all content areas as well as for interventionists and administrators, Aspire® provides knowledge and skills to help adolescent readers meet the challenges of increasingly complex texts in various disciplines. | Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| March 13 Q&A Document Lexia Aspire® Presentation Slides | ||
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| March 20 Q&A Document | ||
| Comprehension | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to deepen and strengthen their knowledge and understanding of comprehension and it's connection to Scarborough's Reading Rope. | Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| March 27 Q&A Document Comprehension Presentation Document | ||
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| April 3 Q&A Document | ||
| End-of-Year Foundational Reading Assessment | This Office Hour will focus on the specific guidance that each of the state-approved foundational reading assessment vendors have for end-of-year testing. During this hour, participants will join break out sessions with their specific vendor and will have an opportunity to ask questions. | Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| April 17 Q&A Document | ||
| CANCELLED | This Office Hour has been cancelled. | Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 10:00 am |
| May 1 Q&A Document | ||
| CANCELLED | Truman Day - State offices are closed. | Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 10:00 am |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 10:00 am |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |
| May 29 Q&A Document | ||
| Open Question and Answer | This Office Hour will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions regarding any literacy initiatives. | Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. |