Lakeland highlights early-literacy gains, plans targeted training for middle grades and fluency

Assistant Superintendent Jake Massie and trustees spent the workshop reviewing literacy and curriculum matters, emphasizing early-reading results, ongoing curriculum availability, and planned professional development to address middle-school gaps.

Massie said district materials and processes are publicly available on the curriculum page and in a curriculum handbook the board recently approved, and he encouraged parents and patrons to make appointments to review materials at district office. "This link goes directly to our curriculum page on the website," he said, noting the district maintains a directory of core curriculum resources that is updated grade-by-grade.

Why it matters: trustees pressed for clarity about which curriculum tools are in place and whether staff have the training to use them effectively. The answers shape classroom instruction and help explain assessment results across grades.

Early-literacy findings and actions Massie reviewed kindergarten and early-grade literacy outcomes pulled into the SIP draft:…