Virginia Literacy Act implementation shows impressive gains in elementary education

York County Schools Division celebrated significant advancements in literacy during its recent School Board meeting on June 2, 2025. The highlight of the meeting was a presentation on the successful implementation of the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and the new HMH program for elementary teachers, which has shown promising results in student reading skills.

The meeting featured enthusiastic praise for the efforts of teachers and literacy coaches, particularly Molly Brown, the coordinator for English. Board members acknowledged the hard work and dedication of educators who have embraced new professional development modules focused on the latest research in reading. "Those are tremendous gains," one board member remarked, emphasizing the positive impact on student learning.

The discussion also highlighted the program's ability to drill down into specific areas where students struggle, such as spelling, decoding, and comprehension. This targeted approach allows teachers to provide tailored instruction, ensuring that each student receives the support they need to improve.

As the meeting concluded, board members expressed excitement about the future of literacy programs in the district, with hopes for similar implementations at the middle school level. The overall sentiment was one of optimism, as the board looks forward to continuing this momentum into the next academic year.