USBE gives quarterly early-literacy update; coaching and classroom implementation spotlighted
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Summary
USBE staff reported on early literacy implementation: 31 coaches supporting 35 schools, expanded cohort recruitment, improved rates of progress monitoring at recommended frequencies, and ongoing focus on classroom instruction (implementation of LETRS-informed practice).
USBE staff provided a quarterly update on the early literacy initiative that followed the 2022 law establishing supports for literacy intervention. Julie Clark, English language arts coordinator, summarized implementation highlights: 31 coaches supporting 35 schools; cohort 3 now includes 21 recruited schools; continuing emphasis on shifting teacher practice from knowledge-acquisition to classroom implementation (instructional change); and improved monitoring—483 of approximately 650 schools are progress-monitoring students at recommended intervals.
The initiative includes teacher professional learning (LETRS), a community engagement project that distributed books to children for summer reading, and an award recognizing schools for implementing reading practices. Staff said local accountability data (end-of-year assessments) will be available after the state returns assessment files (the regular annual timeline), and that USBE will publish completion rates for LETRS participants by July 1.
Why it matters: The update shows system-level supports (coaches, professional learning) and improving progress-monitoring fidelity across participating schools. Staff signaled that the next reports will show the first full-year assessment outcomes tied to the initiative.
Ending: Staff will publish final completion and assessment data when available and continue coaching, recruiting and evaluation work for cohort 3.
