School District enhances literacy programs to improve growth at low-performing schools

Omaha Public Schools is taking significant steps to enhance student growth and literacy in response to recent performance data. During a workshop on June 9, 2025, district leaders highlighted the need for improvement, noting that while some schools have shown growth, others have not met expectations.

Adams Elementary, for example, experienced a 10% growth in the 2022-2023 school year, followed by a 3% decline in the next year, resulting in a net growth of 7%. Similarly, Minnewasa Elementary reported an 11% growth over two years, but this was unevenly distributed. Currently, seven schools have not met growth targets for the past two years, prompting the district to focus on strategies to support these institutions.

To address these challenges, the district plans to enhance elementary literacy through a structured literacy block in master scheduling, which will include dedicated intervention time. All kindergarten through grade teachers will participate in an early literacy workshop, a collaboration with the University of Nebraska Omaha and experienced educators. Additionally, the district is revising guidance on departmentalization and reducing the number of multi-grade classrooms, while also providing training for instructional paraprofessionals on literacy interventions.

These initiatives aim to align the roles of school-based reading specialists across the district, ensuring that all students receive the support they need to improve their literacy skills. The district's commitment to addressing these challenges reflects a proactive approach to fostering educational growth and proficiency among its students.