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Exeter district to pursue UFLI literacy training with grant funds to align early reading instruction
Summary
District staff recommended expanding University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) materials and training for K–4 teachers to address gaps identified by K–2 universal screener data; the $8,400 cost would be covered by a Ready‑to‑Learn grant and training was scheduled to be offered to up to 80 staff.
District leaders told the board April 8 they plan to expand use of the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) program and provide training for teachers after K–2 universal screener results showed gaps in foundational reading skills.
Dr. Josh Hoyt and the district’s K–6 curriculum supervisor (identified during the meeting as Mrs. Bush) described the change as an expansion of a resource the district already uses in intervention and some classrooms. Mrs. Bush said UFLI’s “scope and sequence” and teacher supports align better with students’ needs than the district’s previous “foundations” curriculum.
Mrs. Bush told the board the training is intended to build teacher background knowledge and implementation skill so teachers can “implement it with confidence” in the next school year. Board members asked about goals; Mrs. Bush said the aim is to strengthen foundational reading skills so students become more fluent and better able to comprehend text in later grades: “By building this foundation and making it solid, we will improve reading outcomes throughout their whole education.”
The administration presented a cost figure of $8,400 for training and materials and confirmed the expense will be paid from Ready to Learn grant funds so no general‑fund money is required. Mrs. Bush said the program requires fewer consumable materials than the previous curriculum and will replace a subscription technical component previously used.
No formal vote was taken at the Committee of the Whole meeting. The administration said it will present the specific training authorization and funding for approval at the April voting meeting.
