THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:

The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents

FROM:

James A. Kadamus

COMMITTEE:

Full Board

TITLE OF ITEM:

Presentation on Scientifically-Based Reading Research

DATE OF SUBMISSION:

June 3, 2004

PROPOSED HANDLING:

Information

RATIONALE FOR ITEM:

Inform Regents Policy Implementation

STRATEGIC GOAL:

Goals 1 and 2

AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

 

SUMMARY:

 

On June 21, 2004, Drs. Sally and Bennett Shaywitz will discuss with you their work on scientifically-based reading research.  The work of the Shaywitz’s has contributed much to the vast amount of converging research that shows direct, high- quality instruction does make a difference in attaining reading skills.  Their work has been significantly used to inform the development of New York’s Reading First program.

 

            As background for the discussion, attached are biographical profiles of Dr. Sally and Bennett Shaywitz.  Additionally, Dr. Sally Shaywitz’s book, Overcoming Dyslexia, was mailed in advance to you and provides an excellent exploration of her work.

 

            The conversation with the Drs. Shaywitz continues your commitment to hear from and converse with nationally recognized experts.  This topic on reading research is most timely and will help to further your commitment to ensuring that all students attain early literacy skills.

 

 

Attachments

 

BENNETT A. SHAYWITZ, M.D.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

 

Bennett A. Shaywitz, M.D., is Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology and Chief of Pediatric Neurology at the Yale University School of Medicine.  Dr. Shaywitz received his A.B. from Washington University where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and his M.D. from Washington University School of Medicine.  He completed his Pediatric training and then a Postdoctoral fellowship in Child Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  Together with his wife, Dr. Sally Shaywitz, Dr. Bennett Shaywitz established and is currently Co-Director of the Yale Center for the Study of Learning and Attention.  Dr. Shaywitz has a long-standing interest in disorders of learning and attention in children and young adults. Recently he has used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to discover differences in brain organization and function in children and adults with dyslexia and he is now using fMRI to study how the brain changes as children with dyslexia are taught to read.

 

Dr. Shaywitz’ honors include, among others, election to membership in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, recipient of the 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington University, and selection, along with Dr. Sally Shaywitz, as the recipient of the 2001 Leonard Apt Lectureship of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Sidney Berman Award for the Study and Treatment of Learning Disabilities presented by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.  In 2003, Dr. Shaywitz was chosen as “One of the Best Doctors in America” and “One of America’s Top Doctors.”  He currently serves on the Institute of Medicine Immunization Safety Review Committee, on the Scientific Advisory Board of the March of Dimes, on the Board of the HELP Group of the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and on the Functional Brain Imaging Advisory Board of the Haan Foundation for Children. Dr. Shaywitz also serves on the editorial board of Pediatrics in Review and Child Neuropsychology.

 

 

 

 

 

SALLY E. SHAYWITZ, M.D.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

 

Sally E. Shaywitz, M.D. is Professor of Pediatrics at the Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Shaywitz received her A.B. (with Honors) from the City University where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and her M.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She is, along with her husband Dr. Bennett A. Shaywitz, Co-Director of the Yale Center for the Study of Learning and Attention.  Dr. Sally Shaywitz’ research provides the basic framework, conceptual model, epidemiology and neurobiology for the scientific study of learning disabilities, particularly dyslexia, in children.  Dr. Shaywitz is the author of the widely acclaimed national bestseller, Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at any Level, published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2003.

 

Among her accomplishments, Dr. Shaywitz was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences; was selected, along with her husband Dr. Bennett Shaywitz, as the recipient of the 2001 Leonard Apt Lectureship of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the 1999 Sidney Berman Award of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She was also the 1998 recipient of the Achievement Award in Women’s Health of the Society for the Advancement of Women’s Health Research and the 1995 Distinguished Alumnus Award of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In 2003, Dr. Shaywitz was chosen as “One of the Best Doctors in America” and “One of America’s Top Doctors.”  Dr. Shaywitz currently serves on the Advisory Council of the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), the National Research Council Committee on Women in Science and Engineering, on the scientific advisory board of the March of Dimes, on the Scientific Advisory Board of the International Dyslexia Association, on the Board of the HELP Group of the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Haan Foundation for Children.  Dr. Shaywitz co-chairs the National Research Council Committee on Gender Differences in the Careers of Science, Engineering and Mathematics Faculty; she has most recently served on the Institute of Medicine Committee on Understanding the Biology of Sex and Gender Difference; on the National Reading Panel; and on the Committee to Prevent Reading Difficulties in Young Children of the National Research Council.  Dr. Shaywitz also serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Learning Disabilities. Dr. Shaywitz is currently awaiting Senate confirmation of her nomination to serve on the Board of Directors of the Institute of Educational Sciences.  Her book received the 2004 Margot Marek Book Award and will receive the 2004 NAMI Book Award.