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School board adopts updated division literacy plan, expands Virginia Literacy Act implementation to grades 4–8
Summary
The board approved the division literacy plan for 2025–26, expanding the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) implementation beyond K–3 to include grades 4–8; staff described curriculum updates, new intervention programs and family-engagement efforts and secured partnerships with local organizations.
The Isle of Wight County School Board on June 12 approved the division literacy plan for the 2025–26 school year, extending implementation activity that began under the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) beyond early grades and outlining updated curriculum, intervention programs and family-engagement strategies.
Haley Cooper, the district’s elementary literacy coordinator, presented the plan and said the division expanded work this year to update supplemental and intervention curriculum and assessment in preparation for adding grades 4–8 to the VLA implementation in the coming school year. Cooper said the major changes were updates to the supplemental curriculum, intervention programs and testing to align instruction across K–8.
Cooper described family-engagement priorities and several community partnerships that support literacy work: Kiwanis Club (kindergarten reading program "I’ll Read"), Blackwater Regional Library, the D Good Foundation (Dolly Parton Imagination Library), Isle of Wight County Christian Outreach Program (books for preschool students) and the United Way. Cooper said the division is building a literacy website for families with tools and resources to help caregivers support reading at home.
Board members asked about family-engagement hurdles and how the division measures grant objectives. Cooper said the district relies on needs assessments and coordinator-directed quarterly data reports to set realistic, measurable objectives and to document corrective actions if goals are not met. On the VLA’s first year, Cooper said teachers and staff ‘‘made it through’’ a year of large changes in curriculum and assessment and are already adjusting materials for the coming year.
The board approved the plan by roll call and then took related action items (grants and program funding) in the meeting’s consent and action agenda.
Key points - The plan formally extends implementation activities to grades 4–8 in the coming year. Staff noted updated intervention curriculum and assessment tools as the main changes. - Community partners supporting literacy programs include Kiwanis Club, Blackwater Regional Library, the D Good Foundation (Dolly Parton Imagination Library), Isle of Wight County Christian Outreach Program and the United Way; WHRO provided outreach through its literacy van for a division event. - The board approved the plan by roll call vote; staff said measurable objectives in grants are set using needs assessments and data and that unmet goals would be documented and addressed through supports.
Next steps - The plan is adopted for 2025–26 and staff will implement updates, continue family-engagement efforts and track outcomes through quarterly reports and assessments required by state grant frameworks and the VLA.
