Monroe district adopts University of Florida literacy program for K–2, cites early gains
Summary
Monroe County Schools approved districtwide implementation of the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) for kindergarten through second grade after a district presentation showing early teacher‑confidence gains and student progress in decoding and phonics instruction.
Heidi Roberts, Monroe County School District literacy coordinator, told the board the district has formally adopted the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) for all K–2 classrooms and is providing free instructional kits, coaching cycles and stipends as part of a district‑level rollout.
Roberts said the change reflects a shift toward structured literacy and explicit phonics instruction. "Very simply, it's just teaching foundational reading skills," she said, explaining that schools are following a common scope and sequence so teachers and coaches can collaborate across buildings. Roberts showed preliminary implementation data indicating a notable increase in teacher confidence and satisfaction within two months of districtwide adoption.
Teachers and students demonstrated classroom routines during the presentation. Kindergarten teacher Kristen Leptine described multisensory activities and said she has seen students begin to blend and write words earlier in the year. "I love watching the kids be able to start blending words and getting excited about it," Leptine said.
Board members pressed Roberts about the program's scope and funding. Roberts said some upper‑grade teachers already use UFLI materials in targeted interventions and that the district is using funds tied to a James Patterson donation that supports UFLI partnerships nationwide; she said the district applied for and was awarded participation alongside 11 other districts. Participation includes teacher professional learning, coaching and material distribution; the district also offered stipends for teachers to complete training before the school year began.
The presentation left open plans for expanding the model into tier 2 and tier 3 interventions for older students; Roberts said staff will continue to collect outcome data and consider scaled supports for upper grades. The board expressed general support for the approach and thanked staff for the report.
