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District reports mid‑year DIBELS gains after phased Foundations rollout in K–2
Summary
Pennridge staff reported mid‑year DIBELS benchmark gains in early grades after implementing the Foundations reading program in K–2 and investing in teacher training; presenters said steady, explicit instruction should reduce later special‑education reading identifications.
District literacy staff presented a mid‑year update showing increased DIBELS benchmark performance in grades K–2 following the district’s rollout of Foundations (a Wilson‑derived early literacy program) and investment in professional development for primary teachers.
Presenters said kindergarten students meeting the DIBELS core benchmark increased from approximately 27% at the start of the year to about 41% at mid‑year. Grade‑level summaries for first and second grade also showed gains, which district presenters attributed to consistent, systematic phonics and fluency instruction and supplemental interventions for students needing additional support.
Staff explained Foundations provides explicit, systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, alphabetic principle and early fluency. The district has trained several internal teachers as Foundations specialists through Wilson‑aligned professional development and plans to use the program as core instruction in K–2. District presenters said the approach is intended to reduce the number of students later identified for special‑education reading services by ensuring more students receive effective instruction in general education.
Administrators noted that more longitudinal data will be available at year‑end and that this year’s implementation in grade 2 provides a new comparison group against previous cohorts. Staff cautioned that summer learning and other variables affect scores and that continued monitoring and supplemental instruction remain part of the plan.
Ending: District staff said they will continue to report DIBELS and other literacy indicators to the committee and will analyze year‑over‑year trends as more cohorts receive Foundations instruction.
