Development of a web-based system to build capacity for adolescent literacy and content-area reading

This research and development effort will produce two empirically-derived Web-based applications designed to build school and teacher capacity to improve student literacy in middle schools and high schools: 1)a School-Wide Literacy Audit and Planning Process incorporating research-based indicators of school practices that support literacy development; and 2)a Content- Area Literacy Professional Development System incorporating literacy strategies shown to be effective in supporting content-area literacy and learning. Phase I activities will result in functional specifications and working prototypes for the two applications. An e-Prototyping approach will be used to support the development, testing, and deployment environment of the Web application. Representatives of major educational associations, SEA and school representatives, researchers and professional developers, and technical consultants will serve as advisors to the project.