Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Literacy Read Act topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
South Saint Paul updates Read Act rollout, adds dyslexia pilot for grades 4–5
Summary
District leaders told the board the Read Act rollout has trained nearly all required teachers, uses approved screeners (FastBridge, CBM) and highly aligned curricula; the district will pilot a new dyslexia screener in grades 4–5 after winter screening.
District curriculum leaders told the South Saint Paul school board on Nov. 24 that the district is well into implementation of the state’s Read Act requirements and is piloting new dyslexia screening for upper elementary grades.
Amy Winter, executive director of educational services, introduced Dr. Scott Sundstrom, who described professional development, tiered curriculum alignment and assessment choices. Sundstrom said the district chose the Online Language and Literacy Academy (OLA) training and that "we had everybody trained except for 2 new staff members who have to go through the training this year." He described the elementary tier-1 curricula (UFLY with Wit & Wisdom in K–2; functional morphology with Wit & Wisdom in grades 3–5) and Arts & Letters for middle school.
On screening, Sundstrom explained the district uses FastBridge and CBM reading evaluations and an online reading assessment in grades 2–12. He said screening occurs three times a year (fall, winter, spring) and that, "after the winter FastBridge screening window, those who are identified as high risk will take this new assessment, which is called CAPT read basic," describing a pilot for grades 4–5 covering roughly 50 students to better target interventions.
Sundstrom outlined how interventions are being aligned more closely to at-grade passages for progress monitoring and described a structured coaching model that provides equity and instructional coaches at all four sites. He said the district aims for intervention students to exit intervention rather than remain in it permanently.
Board members asked about onboarding and training for new hires; Sundstrom said interview questions and onboarding steps are used to assess and provide required Read Act training.
No formal action was required of the board for this report; it was presented as an informational update.
