Sarasota district board reviews updated K‑12 evidence‑based reading plan, emphasizes literacy coaching and compliance

Sarasota County School District leaders presented the board with an updated K‑12 comprehensive evidence‑based reading plan on June 17, outlining steps the district will take to align instruction with the science of reading and to meet new state rules that require timelines and credentialing for interventions and identification of substantial reading disabilities.

The presentation, led by Deputy Superintendent Rachel O'Day and supported by Chief of Elementary Schools Jennifer Manelli and Director for Middle School Curriculum Kiara Bryant, explained the district's literacy leadership structure, staffing expectations for district and participating charter schools, and the professional learning funded through a Strauss literacy grant and a Community Foundation partnership. "It is due to the state every year by August 1," O'Day said of the plan, underscoring the yearly submission requirement.

Why it matters: the plan sets instructional expectations that affect classroom staffing, coach endorsements and intervention offerings across K‑12, and it ties directly to student outcomes monitored by the state and the district. The board signaled interest in next steps for comprehension and secondary interventions as the…