South Madison trustees hear district plan to expand ‘science of reading’ instruction
Loading...
Summary
Dr. Miller presented the research-based 'science of reading' framework, district implementation steps including teacher professional development and textbook selection timeline, and a state requirement that preK–5 teachers add a literacy endorsement when they renew by July 1, 2027.
Dr. Miller, a district staff member, briefed the Board of School Trustees of the South Madison Community School Corporation on Sept. 18 about the district’s implementation of the “science of reading,” the body of research the district is using to guide literacy instruction.
The presentation explained that science of reading combines five pillars — phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension — and that instruction must explicitly teach students how speech maps to print so most children can learn to read. Dr. Miller said, “Reading is not a natural process,” and described instruction as “rewiring the brain” for print.
School leaders told trustees why the work matters: early mastery of foundational reading skills supports later learning across subjects and reduces the need for intensive remediation. Dr. Miller cited several figures during the presentation, saying “about 95 of people can learn to read,” that students not proficient by third grade are “4 times as likely to drop out or become disengaged,” and noting longer-term social impacts the district cited in the presentation. She said the district’s own assessment and state ILEARN growth data show improvement that the administration attributes in part to layered, structured literacy instruction.
District practice and next steps described to trustees included: ongoing professional development for teachers (the district is using in‑house trainers and vendor programs), the use of reading materials labeled Superkids and N2 Reading in elementary grades, and monthly PLCs and data dives to cluster students for targeted reteaching. Dr. Miller said the state now requires preK–5 teachers to add a literacy endorsement when they renew their license on or after July 1, 2027, and that teachers must pass the Praxis for that endorsement. She also advised educators may take an 80‑hour Keys to Literacy course that the presenter said the state currently makes available for free; two district staff, Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Snodgrass, are trained as in‑house Keys to Literacy trainers.
The district also has been reviewing new core reading series. Dr. Miller said the curriculum-selection team began with the state’s approved list, narrowed options via a rubric aligned to state requirements and classroom needs, and has reduced vendors to two; she said the district hopes to make a recommendation after the November in‑service and present a proposal at the December board meeting for implementation the following fall.
Trustees asked clarifying questions about timetable and teacher requirements; a trustee asked when the district would select a new textbook series and Dr. Miller replied that final selection is hoped for after the November in‑service and that the district does not need new materials until the next school year. No formal board action was taken on this item during the meeting.
District staff emphasized the difference between materials students can read independently and richer texts selected to support comprehension instruction; Dr. Miller described use of choral or shared reading for texts intended to build background knowledge and vocabulary.
The discussion concluded with the district continuing teacher professional development and the administration planning to return to the board with a textbook proposal if still needed.
