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Hernando schools present 2025–26 comprehensive, state-aligned reading plan; board to review in July
Summary
District staff outlined the 2025–26 K–12 evidence-based reading plan, highlighting gains in early literacy, required alignment with Just Read Florida and state rules, and summer intervention programs; staff will return in July for final board approval and must submit to the state by Aug. 1.
Tiffany Howard, representing district literacy staff, told the Hernando County School Board on June 24 that the district will bring its 2025–26 comprehensive evidence‑based reading plan back to the board in July for final approval and must submit the plan to the Just Read Florida office by Aug. 1.
The plan, Howard said, covers coaching salaries and benefits, professional development, assessment, curricula and materials, tutoring and family engagement. “On future slides in the bottom left corner, you'll see where we have notated specific state statutes and rules for that section of the reading plan, so that you'll know that our plan is fully aligned,” Howard said.
Kelly Downey, supervisor of literacy intervention and elementary academic programs, reviewed district results the presentation highlights. Downey said kindergarten and third grade performance are “currently performing above the state average,” and noted district gains year to year: kindergarten proficiency showed a double-digit increase and overall ELA achievement for grades three through 10 rose three percentage points.
District staff emphasized early learning results in the district’s VPK (voluntary prekindergarten) program: Downey reported kindergarten‑readiness benchmark results of about 93% in one year and 95% the following year by STAR Early Literacy. She also said students scoring below the 10th percentile in VPK represented one student in both years.
Howard described program supports required by the state plan: site and district literacy coaches using the Just Read Florida coaching model, adoption of state‑approved ELA materials, use of assessments (STAR Early Literacy, I‑Ready, Lexia and statewide tests) and evidence‑based tiered interventions meeting ESSA evidence ratings. The plan also contains a decision tree to identify students for Tier 2 and Tier 3 intervention and a requirement to notify families when interventions are assigned.
Staff outlined a third‑grade summer reading camp running June 9–July 3. “This year, we're hosting it at two schools and we're serving 89 students in that third grade summer reading camp,” Howard said; the camp is offered to third graders who did not meet the promotion-to-fourth-grade test requirement, she added. Students at the camp will receive small‑group instruction and may retest for promotion using alternate assessments the state allows.
Board members asked for additional data before final approval: one asked for cohort tracking that follows students from the prior grade to see whether movement of students in and out of the district affected year-to-year comparisons; another asked for the percentage of kindergarten students who attended VPK. Howard said staff will provide the requested cohort and VPK‑participation figures before the July meeting.
Next steps announced by staff: return for final approval at the July board meeting and submit the completed plan to the Just Read Florida office by Aug. 1.
The presentation noted additional supports planned for the year: monthly literacy coach and MTSS meetings, continued training on new curriculum and interventions, reading endorsement pathways for teachers and contingency plans for K–3 tutoring if a state Science of Reading tutoring grant is awarded.
