Implementing evidence-based literacy instruction is complex work. It requires not only adopting high-quality curricula but ensuring teachers understand why they’re using specific practices, how to deliver them with fidelity, and when to adjust based on student needs. For special educators supporting students with disabilities, this complexity intensifies because instruction must be both grounded in the science of reading and responsive to individual learning profiles.
This is where coaching becomes essential. And now, Virginia educators have a powerful new tool to support this work: the Virginia Literacy Partnerships’ Coaching Support Package.
What Is the Coaching Support Package?
The VLP Coaching Support Package is a comprehensive, freely available resource designed to help reading specialists, literacy coaches, administrators, and teacher leaders support educators in implementing evidence-based literacy instruction aligned with the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA). Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, the package offers a menu of flexible coaching tools organized around the five essential components of reading: phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
The package includes:
- Coaching conversation protocols to guide reflective dialogue
- Observation tools aligned to evidence-based practices
- Self-assessment resources for educators to identify growth areas
- Planning templates to translate observations into actionable next steps
- Video examples demonstrating effective instruction
What makes this resource particularly valuable for special education is its emphasis on instructional moves, those specific, teachable actions educators take during lessons, rather than surface-level compliance checklists.
Why Coaching Matters for Students with Disabilities
Research consistently shows that effective coaching improves instructional quality, which directly impacts student outcomes. For students with disabilities, who often require more explicit, systematic, and intensive instruction, the stakes are even higher. High-Leverage Practice #12 reminds us to systematically design instruction toward specific learning goals which requires deep pedagogical knowledge that develops over time through reflective practice and targeted feedback.
Coaching bridges the gap between knowing what evidence-based literacy instruction looks like and implementing it effectively. It helps educators:
- Modify pacing without sacrificing explicitness
- Provide appropriate scaffolds during phonics instruction for students with memory or processing challenges
- Build fluency in ways that honor students using AAC or adaptive technologies
- Make vocabulary instruction accessible for students with language-based learning disabilities
- Support comprehension development for students with complex communication needs
High-Leverage Practices Meet Coaching
The intersection of coaching and High-Leverage Practices creates a powerful framework for improving literacy instruction:
HLP #1: Collaborate with professionals to increase student success. Coaching is collaboration. The protocols in the VLP package facilitate meaningful partnerships between special educators, general educators, reading specialists, literacy specialists, and coaches to better integrate specially designed instruction within evidence-based literacy frameworks.
HLP #22: Provide positive and constructive feedback to guide students’ learning and behavior. Effective coaches model this same practice with teachers. The observation tools help coaches provide specific, actionable feedback that moves instruction forward—just as teachers must do for students.
From Observation to Action: How the Package Works
The Coaching Support Package supports a cycle of continuous improvement:
- Establish Focus: Identify a specific area for growth
- Observe with Purpose: Gather evidence about instructional moves
- Reflect Together: Engage in meaningful dialogue about what worked and why
- Plan Next Steps: Translate insights into concrete adjustments
- Monitor Progress: Use teacher practice and student data to inform ongoing conversations
This cycle honors the expertise teachers bring while creating space for growth which is essential when implementing new practices required by VLA.
A Resource for All Coaches
Whether you’re a designated reading specialist, a lead special education teacher supporting colleagues, or an administrator conducting walkthroughs, the Coaching Support Package offers tools scaled to your context. The resources are designed to be:
- Flexible: Select tools based on teacher needs and readiness
- Evidence-aligned: Grounded in VLA requirements and literacy research
- Accessible: Free, downloadable, and available to all Virginia educators
- Practical: Immediately usable without extensive training
Ready to Strengthen Literacy Instruction?
As Virginia continues implementing VLA, the need for sustained, job-embedded professional learning will only grow. Coaching provides the ongoing support necessary for educators to internalize new practices and adapt them to meet diverse student needs.
Access the full Coaching Support Package at: VLP Coaching Support Package
When we invest in coaching educators, we invest in every student’s literacy future. Let’s use this resource to strengthen instruction, deepen collaboration, and ensure that evidence-based literacy practices reach every learner.