District outlines literacy changes: UFLI phonics in K–2 and recommendation to pair with Amplify CKLA
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Summary
District leaders updated the board May 13 on literacy work tied to the state’s science-of-reading guidance: UFLI Foundations is in K–2 classrooms, and the committee unanimously recommended adding Amplify CKLA’s knowledge-building curriculum for language-comprehension instruction in grades K–4 ahead of a required attestation Sept. 2.
The district presented an update on literacy work May 13 that aligns local practice with New York State guidance on the science of reading and prepares the district for an attestation of K–3 literacy practices due Sept. 2, 2025.
Executive Director (elementary education) and the literacy team said the district began primary‑grade phonics work in June 2023 and “officially launched in all of our classrooms, UFLI” in September 2024. The UFLI Foundations phonics program addresses systematic word‑recognition skills and teachers reported improved implementation with explicit scope and sequence and increased use of decodable texts in K–2.
The district’s literacy committee reviewed state guidance, the Reading League’s curriculum-evaluation tool and other national resources, then vetted options to strengthen the language‑comprehension side of reading instruction. The committee unanimously recommended Amplify CKLA — a knowledge‑building curriculum — to provide topic-based units, structured writing lessons and integrated knowledge-building that pairs with UFLI Foundations’ phonics scope and sequence. For grades 3–4 the district recommended using CKLA’s integrated strand that includes a novel study and explicit writing instruction.
Why it matters: New York State has issued literacy briefs, a curriculum review guide and a best-practices document grounded in the science of reading; superintendents must attest to district literacy practices. The district told the board it believes the UFLI + Amplify CKLA pairing aligns with state guidance and positions the district to attest confidently in September.
Formal action: the presentation was informational; the district team thanked the board and leadership for support and said it will continue implementation, professional development and the attestation process.
