ADE Summit 2026

The consequences of low literacy can be dire. We can't keep waiting for children to fail before we provide them with the help they need. Instead, we need to change the way we think about addressing our students' literacy needs by enhancing the quality of instruction in the primary grades. Through effective early ready instruction, most long-term difficulties can be averted. Evidence-based prevention efforts save money, time, and effort, while yielding far better academic, social, and economic outcomes.

Join us for an engaging educational summit introducing the new ATLAS Assessment Writing Rubric—a shared framework designed to bring clarity, consistency, and rigor to student writing. Together, we’ll explore how the rubric can strengthens instruction, support meaningful feedback, and elevates expectations across classrooms.

Arkansas children begin developing the foundational skills for literacy long before they enter kindergarten. The Arkansas Imagination Library provides children from birth to age five with developmentally appropriate, high-quality books mailed directly to their homes each month—creating what may be the first High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) many children experience.
This presentation will explore how Arkansas Imagination Library supports early language development, vocabulary acquisition, phonological awareness, family engagement, and kindergarten readiness through consistent access to high-quality children’s literature. Participants will learn how local school districts can partner with Arkansas Imagination Library to strengthen literacy outcomes before children ever enter a classroom.
Recent national and state research will be shared that consistently demonstrates that early access to books and shared reading experiences significantly impact future academic achievement, including third-grade reading proficiency. By supporting Arkansas Imagination Library, school leaders can help ensure children arrive at kindergarten with stronger literacy foundations, increased exposure to print, and positive reading routines already established in the home.
This session will provide practical partnership models, funding strategies, enrollment outreach ideas, and examples of how Arkansas districts can position Arkansas Imagination Library as a foundational component of their early literacy pipeline.

Discover how The Writing Revolution (TWR) strengthens learning in math and science classrooms. This session highlights real examples of TWR strategies in action across grade levels, including high school, showing how structured writing supports reasoning, problem solving, and scientific thinking. Educators and administrators will see how brief, intentional writing tasks deepen comprehension, clarify student thinking, and enhance communication—helping math and science instruction become more precise, coherent, and impactful.