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Central Elementary participates in Indiana Literacy Cadre; coach reports student-centered coaching and iRead progress
Summary
Central Elementary staff told the board April 28 they have joined the Indiana Literacy Cadre and are using a literacy coach and evidence-based 'science of reading' practices to raise iRead outcomes; results are under embargo but presenters said they expect to reach the state threshold.
Central Elementary staff and the district presented an update about their participation in the Indiana Literacy Cadre at the Portage Township Schools board meeting on April 28. Principal Sue Soller and literacy coach Tabitha Henry described on-site coaching, co-planning and co-teaching cycles aligned with the science of reading.
Presenters said participation in the Cadre provides implementation guidance, professional development, classroom coaching and access to supplemental curricular materials aligned to the science of reading. Henry described a student-centered coaching cycle: set standards and learning targets, pre-assess, co-plan, co-teach multiple times per week, then post-assess to measure growth.
Speakers cited House Enrolled Act 1590 (referred to in the presentation as HEA 1590) and House Bill 1558 (effective July 1, 2023), which require evidence-based reading curricula and trained instructional coaches for schools that fall below the state proficiency threshold on the iRead assessment. Central Elementary fell below the state’s 70% proficiency threshold and therefore qualified for the Cadre supports under state law, presenters said.
Principal Soller said Central has a training support specialist (TSS) assigned, and that she and the literacy coach attended a five-day Cadre training last summer. Second-grade teacher Anna Jones, currently in a coaching cycle, described the coaching as collaborative and supportive and said it has provided “invaluable” resources and improved classroom practice.
When asked about results, presenters said some results remain under embargo but they were “very pleased” and expect to meet or exceed the 70% threshold when results are released. District staff said the financial cost of expanding Cadre participation is a major constraint; the Cadre offsets part of the cost but local funding is still required. District leaders said they are discussing expanding the coach model to at least one additional school and exploring budget options to split coaching time across campuses.
Board members asked about which grades the coach serves; presenters said kindergarten through third grade are included, and second graders who do not pass iRead will be re-tested and offered summer school. No formal board action was taken that night on Cadre expansion.
