Dr. Hayek, Crete Public Schools’ chief academic officer, told the board that the district was a recipient of the CLSD grant and provided an outline of goals, timelines and activities the funds will support.

"The goal of the CLSD grant is to advance literacy skills, including our pre‑literacy skills, reading and writing for all children from birth through grade 12," Hayek said, and described proficiency targets linked to state assessments and ACT benchmarks (third grade 75% proficient, fifth 78.5%, eighth 81.5%, 11th grade ACT 73%). She told trustees the district received $259,000 allocated across three grade bands for year 1 and year 2 and will carry unspent year‑one funds into year two.

Planned uses include LETRS science‑of‑reading professional development for teachers, updated CKLA instructional materials for kindergarten through fifth grade, MTSS system strengthening for screening and interventions, expanded ACT prep through John Baylor materials at the high school, and partner support (Solution Tree) for PLC development beginning in 2026. Hayek said internal review of district data is ongoing ahead of a statewide data release on Nov. 26; trustees will examine detailed data at the December working meeting and see high‑level results at the regular December meeting.

Hayek also identified special education and early childhood targets, including a target that 94.5% of participating 4‑year‑old children achieve significant gains in oral language for the birth–five band, and said some data remain internal and are being prepared for public release.