Millard Public Schools presents Phase 1 English language arts plan emphasizing "science of reading" and districtwide field study

Millard Public Schools curriculum staff presented a phase 1 update on English language arts to the board committee, outlining the district’s approach to the “science of reading,” current student assessment results and the timeline for selecting new instructional materials. Staff said they will bring a curriculum framework in April and propose a field study next year that would include every elementary building in the district.

The update explained that the “science of reading” is a broad body of research rather than a single program, and that it combines phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency and higher-level comprehension work. District presenters described training already underway for elementary and secondary teachers and said intervention programs are in place in a subset of schools while the district evaluates core instructional materials.

District context: why this matters

School leaders said the review matters because Nebraska has raised its college- and career-ready standards, and the district wants curriculum materials and professional learning that align with those expectations. Millard staff noted the state’s…