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District previews pre-K–3 literacy initiative and parent-engagement work
Summary
Superintendent Carlos Garcia announced a district priority to address early literacy with a pre-K through third-grade initiative to train teachers as literacy specialists and pilot pre-K assessments; district staff and parent relations reported a recent parent convention and plans for follow-up family literacy events.
Superintendent Carlos Garcia told the board Oct. 9 that he has begun regular principal roundtable discussions and previewed a new district priority: a pre-K through grade 3 literacy initiative aimed at increasing early reading achievement.
Assistant Superintendent Sandy Lam described the initiative’s goals and timeline: professional development for first-grade teachers to start in February, follow-up coaching and assessment pilots at two pre-K sites, and a phased rollout that brings kindergarten and second-grade teachers into training in the second year and grades 3 and 4 in the third year. "The goal of this initiative is for all kindergarten to third grade students to receive reading instruction from teachers who are as knowledgeable about teaching reading as a reading specialist," Lam said, citing research on vocabulary gaps that emerge early and widen by fourth grade.
The superintendent also asked Dina from the Parent Relations office to report on a recent parent convention at John O’Connell High School with about 165 attendees, multilingual workshops, and highly positive evaluations; staff said a spring convention will focus on home strategies for early literacy.
Board members welcomed the initiative and parent outreach as prioritized steps to improve student achievement, and requested continued updates on funding sources and pilot outcomes.
