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Parents urge district to adopt research-based literacy instruction; district applied for state focus grant
Summary
A parent advocacy group warned the board that current early literacy practices are ineffective and urged the district to adopt evidence-based reading curriculum; transcript shows the district applied for the NJDOE focus grant of $17,960 and the curriculum committee discussed collaboration with parent groups.
Parents and advocates told the Evesham Township Board of Education they want the district to adopt proven, research-based literacy instruction and to engage families in curriculum planning, citing state law and a small state grant the district has applied for.
Amanda Gaunt, representing Parents for Improved Literacy Outcomes, told the board the group has grown to more than 500 members and said the district’s current core early literacy program is not providing reliable evidence of effectiveness. “0. The reliable and valid data points you have demonstrating the effectiveness of the core tier 1 early literacy instruction you are providing our children,” Gaunt said, reading figures from her remarks to emphasize the lack of district-provided supporting data.
Why it matters: Speakers argued that early-grade literacy is foundational for later success and said the district should move from homemade materials to validated curricula and use available state funding. The speaker cited PL 2024 c.52, a law referenced in her remarks that reaffirms the state's focus on improving literacy outcomes, and noted the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) focus grant is available to support that work.
What the board heard: A second speaker praised the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Committee and asked for collaboration between the advocacy group and the curriculum department, specifically naming the director of curriculum and the supervisor of literacy as potential partners. The parent speaker said the district had been awarded a NJDOE focus grant for $17,960 and noted that item 9.5 on the meeting agenda was an approval of the district’s grant application for that amount.
Board action and follow-up: The board moved to approve items 9.1 through 9.6 (motion by Mr. DeMarcy, seconded by Mr. Thompson), and the roll call shows the curriculum items were approved. At the Curriculum Committee report later in the meeting, a board member said the district had applied for the focus grant and described plans to collaborate with parent groups to schedule meetings to discuss literacy improvements.
Requests from parents: Advocacy members asked for a district-wide curriculum survey to collect community feedback and requested a collaborative meeting with Ms. Mikulik, the curriculum director, and Miss Mindy Coffer, supervisor of literacy, to discuss next-year plans and how the grant funds will be used. Parents said they had sent a detailed email to Dr. Smith, Ms. Mikulik and the board outlining concerns and had not received a response as of the meeting.
Next steps: The district’s curriculum committee said it will attempt to schedule collaborative meetings with parent groups and the district applied for the NJDOE focus grant; parents asked for transparent reporting on how grant funds will support changes to early literacy instruction.
