Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · 20h

Right! And even though IDEA doesn’t apply to college students, 504 still does. While 504 isn't overseen by OSERS, OCR is also being hit hard by federal cuts. This is already slowing down investigations and weakening enforcement of disability rights protections across postsecondary institutions! 😡

Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · 21h

Join us for our #WordConnections webinar series. We'll explore implementation of this research-based, targeted intervention to support students' reading of complex words! #TosteTeam #BigWords #ScienceOfReading

📅 Nov 13 + Dec 4 | 💻 Live Online
🔗 Register: tosteteam.simpletix.com

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · 23d

We did an adorable #TosteTeam photoshoot for our fall 2025 back to campus series. These folks are the best part of my job! 🤘🏼🧡

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · 23d

Nominate your favorite special education researcher for a 2026 CEC-DR Award!

CEC Division for Research (CEC-DR) @cec-dr.bsky.social · 23d

Consider nominating a colleague (or yourself) for one of the 2026 CEC-DR Awards! You have two months to think about it. Awards will be presented at the CEC Convention in Salt Lake City, UT in March 2026. Visit our website to learn more about each award: cecdr.org/cec-dr-awards

Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Sep 4

We’re hiring! Come work with us in the Department of Special Education at UT Austin. Scholar in special education or related fields, without restrictions on rank or specific research program. Apply here:
faculty.utexas.edu/career/168004 #WhatStartsHere

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Aug 12

Challenge: post your last photo taken in DC to show what a hell-hole it is

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Aug 8

Good summary: bsky.app/profile/cdel...

Colette Delawalla @cdelawalla.bsky.social · Aug 8

Here’s my top line overview:

Trump has signed a new EO that puts us firmly into authoritarian overreach territory.
Here's the top line:
1. Calls for political appointees--without science background--to approve all new funding opportunities and **every funded grant** to be sure it aligns with "the President's policy priorities".
2. Any grant that doesn't advance "agency priorities" can be cancelled at any time.
3. Funding cannot be given for research that: promotes "anti-American values", suggests sex isn't binary, and uses any selection for race. (Say good-bye to all c. elegans work!)
4. Funding will be prioritized to institutions that implement the "Gold Standard Science" and have the lowest indirect cost caps.
5. Grant peer-review is fine for now, but seems to be under threat for the future.

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Aug 8

Released yesterday. Increased control over federal grants and the direction of science.

Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to improve the process of Federal

www.whitehouse.gov

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Aug 6

We want your thoughts on themes and topics that are of interest to the readership of The Reading League Journal and friends of @thereadingleague.org. Share your ideas below! 👇🏼

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Jul 25

Available open access here: doi.org/10.1080/0046... 3/3

Using incremental science to improve inclusive educational psychology research

In the article, we use an incremental science approach to propose opportunities for researchers in educational psychology and special education to design and implement studies that are inclusive of...

doi.org

Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Jul 25

We describe an incremental science framework and how a range of research designs can be situated within this framework. We provide examples of how our research can be more inclusive through understanding individual differences while also addressing complex, structural issues in education. 2/3

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Jul 25

🚨 NEW PUBLICATION ALERT 🚨

Catch up on new #TosteTeam pubs! Jason Chow (@jchow.bsky.social) and I wrote this article for a special issue of Educational Psychologist. We highlight special education as a field that has prioritized the generation of scientific evidence to guide decision-making. 1/3

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Jul 15

Submissions for 2026 @aeraedresearch.bsky.social are due July 25! Join your colleagues and friends in Los Angeles in April 2026. To learn more and submit, visit: www.aera.net/Events-Meeti...

AERA @aeraedresearch.bsky.social · Jul 11

We're two weeks away from the #AERA2026 Submission deadline! If you haven't already, now's the time to begin or complete your submission. www.aera.net/Events-Meeti...

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Reposted by Jessica Toste

Lorentz Center @lorentzcenter.bsky.social · Jun 16

This workshop focuses on how technology can be used to strengthen the connection between assessment data and instruction in education.
bit.ly/4n3EbOE
@jessicatoste.bsky.social

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · May 14

👇🏼 Tomorrow afternoon! Join us!

Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Apr 9

Join me and @brennanchandler.bsky.social for a webinar on May 15. We'll be talking about word reading instruction for students in intermediate grades and #WordConnections! Webinar hosted by @cecmembership.bsky.social and @cec-dr.bsky.social. Free for members! Register: tinyurl.com/CEC-WordReading

CEC and DR webinar. Logos for both Council for Exceptional Children and Divison for Research. "Instruction to support word-level reading skils for students with disabilities in the intermediate grades." Thursday, May 15 from 4:00-5:00pm ET. Free for CEC members.

Webinar presenters. Jessica Toste, PhD, Associate Professor & Distinguished Teaching Professor. Department of Special Education. The University of Texas at Austin. Brennan Chandler, PhD. Assistant Professor. Department of Learning Sciences. Georgia State University. Register at http://tinyurl.com/CEC-WordReading

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · May 12

🖤

CEC Division for Research (CEC-DR) @cec-dr.bsky.social · May 12

IN MEMORY OF LYNN FUCHS

The field of special education lost a visionary and beloved leader with the passing of Lynn Fuchs on May 7, 2025. Her absence leaves a profound void—not only in our scholarly community, but in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing her.

[ click reading below ]

In Memory of Lynn Fuchs

Email from CEC Division for Research May 12, 2025 In Memory of Lynn Fuchs The field of special education lost a visionary and beloved leader with the passing of Lynn Fuchs on May 7, 2025. Her absenc

conta.cc

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · May 1

So cool! @planetworddc.bsky.social is THE BEST museum. I went there with our 4th grader in the fall and we loved it. We had only two hours to visit and could have stayed much longer. 🤓🔤

Emily Hanford @ehanford.bsky.social · May 1

I work with @planetworddc.bsky.social on a speaker series. We created a video to share the story of what we've done over the past year. More to come in 2025... www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDKY...

Inside Planet Word’s Journalist in Residence Program with Emily Hanford

YouTube video by Planet Word

www.youtube.com

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Apr 29

There is a corrected version of our article online today! This correction is thanks to a literacy specialist across the country who read the article and noticed an error. I'm so grateful for bright, engaged educators who make my work better! Open access here: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Apr 26

Open access: doi.org/10.1177/0731.... Findings indicate that spelling practice (using Cover-Copy-Compare) did not result in stronger multisyllabic word reading compared with word reading practice. More research is needed to examine other approaches to spelling practice! 3/3

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

doi.org

Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Apr 26

By holding word reading instruction constant, we tested whether spelling practice (i.e., Decoding+Spelling condition) was associated with improved word reading as compared with using that time for word reading practice (i.e., Decoding condition) for 3rd to 5th graders with dyslexia. 2/3

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Apr 26

🚨 NEW PUBLICATION ALERT 🚨

I’m behind in sharing new #TosteTeam pubs! New article in Learning Disability Quarterly. We report findings from brief experiment of the unique contribution of spelling practice, specifically Cover-Copy-Compare, on multisyllabic word reading for students with dyslexia. 1/3

Screenshot of article. Title: Investigating the Contribution of Spelling Practice to the Multisyllabic Word Reading Skills of Upper Elementary Students With Dyslexia

Authors: Jessica R. Toste, PhD, Nathan H. Clemens, PhD, Marissa J. Filderman, PhD, Brennan W. Chandler, PhD, Saashya Rodrigo, PhD, and Clinton Moore, PhD

Abstract: While spelling instruction may enhance reading interventions, there is little experimental evidence to date that examines the benefit of integrating spelling activities above and beyond explicit word reading instruction and practice alone. The study sought to investigate whether a common approach to spelling practice, cover-copy-compare (CCC), uniquely contributed to multisyllabic word reading skills of third to fifth grade students with dyslexia (n = 32). In this brief experiment, students completed two controlled individual sessions (30-min each). Each session included two instructional components and one practice component. The practice component differed by study condition, with students randomized to either reading practice (Decoding condition) or spelling practice using a modified CCC activity (Decoding+Spelling condition). No between-group differences were observed on researcher-developed or standardized word reading and pseudoword reading measures; however, a small but statistically significant effect favored students in the Decoding condition on a standardized measure of word reading efficiency. Findings suggest students in both conditions improved their reading of multisyllabic words, and there did not appear to be a differential benefit of spelling practice via CCC compared with reading practice. We discuss implications for future research on the contribution of spelling practice to word-level reading interventions for students with dyslexia.

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Reposted by Jessica Toste

Liz Neeley @lizneeley.bsky.social · Apr 24

URGENT ACTION FOR NSF GRANTEES.

For current & recent (since 2020) awards, archive your award history this afternoon/tonight. Screenshot/download/print your work in research.gov & alert your partners.

We have credible threats to integrity of awards tracking systems (via @jeremymberg.bsky.social)

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Apr 21

Yay! 🥳

The Reading League @thereadingleague.org · Apr 21

We're thrilled to welcome @jessicatoste.bsky.social as editor-in-chief of The Reading League Journal!

A nationally recognized reading scholar, Dr. Toste brings deep expertise & a bold vision for bridging research & practice.

🔗 Learn more about her vision: www.thereadingleague.org/news/noted-r...

Dr. Jessica, Editor-in-Chief, The Reading League Journal, Toste smiles in the library wearing a muted orange dress that contrasts nicely against the background of bookshelves

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Apr 17

I may be accepting ONE additional PhD student in fall 2025! Four-year funding package. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents for this funding opportunity. Must have an interest in intensive reading intervention. Reach out if interested! 📤 [email protected]

Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Nov 11

Interested in pursuing a PhD in special education? I'm recruiting new doctoral students to join the #TosteTeam at UT Austin in fall 2025. We do lots of cool stuff related to intensive reading intervention! Scroll to next post in this thread to learn more about opportunity for full funding package.

Interested in pursuing a PhD in Special Education at The University of Texas at Austin? Join the #TosteTeam and study intensive reading intervention. Our work focuses on understanding effectiveness of reading interventions, data-based instruction, motivation science, and implementation science. Dr. Toste is accepting students for fall 2025 admission. Potential for full funding package including research assistantship, tuition, and health insurance.

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Jessica Toste @jessicatoste.bsky.social · Apr 16

We got proofs back for an article and there are references they asked us to fix. All of them include URLs for federal websites that NO LONGER EXIST.

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