Each year the Board of Education adopts its priorities, which help focus the efforts of administration and staff for the coming school year. During 2021-2022, one of those priorities was to study and review improvements for the reading program. Led by Dr. Laura Smith, Assistant Superintendent for Special Services, and Mrs. Jen Waters, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, a team of educators, parents and a Board member developed seven recommendations, which the Board of Education adopted at the regular June meeting. These recommendations include:

1. Train an Early Childhood Facilitator in LETRS and provide literacy professional development to all ECC certified staff.

2. The district should provide equitable access to Reading intervention services to struggling readers across the district

3. The district should continue to provide ongoing literacy professional development. Professional development topics should include LETRS, Science of Reading training, 95% group and all currently utilized reading materials/programs.

4. The district should investigate ways to increase time for elementary teachers to work in professional learning communities and engage in professional learning opportunities.

5. The district should provide an explicit phonics program in tier 1 instruction grades K-3.

6. The district should review current Word Study programming for grades 4 and 5 and determine program needs.

7. The district, along with stakeholders, should create a new elementary schedule that is responsive to the needs of students

You can learn more about the committee’s recommendations in their presentation.