Maryland students will soon be able to take advantage of an unusual form of literature not often associated with schools as they strengthen their reading skills.

The Maryland State Department of Education, in partnership with Diamond Comic Distributors and Disney Publishing Worldwide, is developing an instructional toolkit that will allow schools to supplement traditional literature with comic books and graphic novels.

MSDE’s new reading initiative is being assembled by a creative team that includes award-winning teachers, reading specialists, educational administrators, library specialists, comic book authors, and publishers. 

“Reading is a wonderful activity in all of its many forms,” said Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick, Maryland State Superintendent of Schools.  “Our job as educators is to help children learn to enjoy reading, making it a pleasurable experience rather than a burden.  By using nontraditional materials along with our regular materials, we believe students will become even more excited about reading.”

Maryland’s unique statewide project will not mandate comic books or replace traditional classroom materials.  Rather, the program will provide options for teachers as they seek to encourage reading across the grade spectrum.

Pilot instructional projects began this month in Baltimore, Harford, Carroll, and Queen Anne’s Counties.  In addition, the Jessup Correctional Institution is developing a pilot reading instruction program for incarcerated adults using graphic novels.

“Comic books offer a wonderful gateway to the joys of reading,” said Steve Geppi, president and chief executive of Diamond Comic Distributors.  “They bring together art and literature to communicate ideas and spark the imagination—much like the best novels.  This is an exciting program for Maryland schools.”

Diamond has given the State a $10,000 project grant to support substitute teachers and other costs associated with the pilot programs currently underway.  The corporation also has provided thousands of dollars in materials to creative team members and pilot schools to help launch the project.

Disney has agreed to provide materials for the elementary school roll-out, and will be creating new titles for Maryland elementary programs.

Graphic literature has drawn increasing interest from educators.  They can be used as powerful motivational tools, provide context for written text for students who have difficulty with visualization, and provide reluctant readers with the foundations they need to move on to more challenging materials.  Comic books have found their place in both remedial and gifted classrooms.

An expert panel of K-12 educators, college and university professors, comic book authors, and others involved in the graphic novel field is selecting program materials for the project.  Comic books considered for inclusion will be vetted by panelists to ensure their utility in the classroom.  In addition, a team of higher education and reading experts will develop an evaluation of the program's content, motivational capabilities, and effectiveness.

Instructional components for the program are being put together for elementary schools beginning in grade 3, middle schools, high schools, and adult education programs.  The initiative uses state content standards and is directly connected with Maryland’s Voluntary State Curriculum. 

Plans are for the Maryland Comics Initiative Instructional Toolkit to be completed by June, with a roll-out of the program to state systems scheduled for fall of 2005. 

Dr. Grasmick is scheduled to make a presentation on the graphic literature project before the International Reading Association in San Antonio this coming May.