Radford reports literacy progress, extra Title I funds and new intervention for grades 3–8

Jane Cox presented the division's literacy update on Nov. 11, reporting that the Virginia Department of Education approved Title I, II and IV applications and that Title I came in about $73,000 higher than last year. The additional Title I funds will be allocated to personnel and family-engagement efforts under an amendment the administration is preparing.

Cox said the division's K–2 results in the consortium were strong — second grade ranked first and first grade ranked second in progress into the low-risk band — and that the HMH Into Reading program is the core K–5 curriculum. For students who need supplemental instruction, Radford is using UFLI and Lexia; the new intervention program for grades 3–8, HMH Read 180, places each student on one of two pathways after placement testing (code for phonics emphasis or workshop for comprehension/vocabulary/writing) with about 30 minutes of targeted instruction plus a personalized computer program component.

Cox explained that VALS assessments are being used to target instruction for students who failed reading SOLs or require read-aloud accommodations; some fourth-through-eighth graders will take VALS twice this year to inform interventions.

Quote: "We got more money than we had expected on Title I — about $73,000 — and we are in the process of writing the amendment that will show how we will use those additional funds," Cox said.

Ending: Administration will draft a Title I amendment for board review and continue to report progress on literacy goals and intervention outcomes at future meetings.