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Hillsboro reports gains in first-grade phonics; board warned funding limits could slow progress
Summary
District staff reported year‑over‑year improvement on first‑grade phonics assessments in English and Spanish, highlighted interventions and curriculum changes credited with gains, and flagged budget pressures and special education costs that could constrain future work; the district also said it secured a $1,000,000 summer‑school grant.
Hillsboro School District 1J staff reported measurable gains in first‑grade phonics and foundational reading skills on Monday and described the instructional steps and grants that officials say helped produce the improvement.
At a board meeting update, staff compared winter 2024 and winter 2025 phonics survey results and said the share of first graders meeting key foundational reading skills rose across most categories. "We have made a lot of growth from last year to this year," Gina McClain, the district's director of teaching and learning, said as she presented the results.
Why it matters: The board has prioritized third‑grade literacy as a strategic goal, and staff said gains in early grades (preK–2) are essential to meeting third‑grade targets. Board members applauded the progress but cautioned that continuing gains depend on sustained funding for curriculum, assessments and staffing.
Key…
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