Lake Washington School District reviews early-literacy progress, expands K–3 implementation plans

The Lake Washington School District board held a study session Feb. 10 to review early-literacy progress and next steps for K–3 instruction, hearing presentations on screening data, classroom practices and planned system changes.

Director Kelly Pease told the board that the district uses a universal screener (FastBridge) three times a year and is looking for an 80 percent baseline of students meeting grade-level expectations while accelerating supports for students furthest from educational justice. "We take reading for granted. We often forget that literacy is the foundation of all learning," Pease said.

Pease described classroom structure and instructional materials the district is using or piloting: a consistent 90-minute literacy block with 20–30 minutes of whole-group instruction and differentiated small-group instruction the remainder of the block; Heggerty for phonemic awareness whole-group practice; Wonders as the district core curriculum; and a pilot of UFLI (an evidence-based program from the University of Florida) in several K–2 classrooms. She said district leaders plan to expand UFLI so it will be…