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Dysart hears update on Spalding pilot; leaders say program is structured literacy not a scripted quick fix

Dysart Governing Board · January 27, 2026
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Summary

District literacy staff reported year‑three implementation at Countryside and plans to expand a modified Spalding pilot to Sunset and Marley Park; staff said Spalding requires extensive training, supplements for phonological awareness and ongoing fidelity checks.

District literacy leaders presented an update on the Spalding structured‑literacy pilot, describing what the program is and what it is not and outlining next steps to expand implementation.

Connie Wolford, director of K–12 curriculum, told the board: "Spalding is a structured literacy approach grounding in the science of reading. It is explicit systematic instruction in handwriting phonics and spelling." She added that Spalding "is not a scripted program" and "definitely not a quick fix," noting it requires "extensive training and consistent implementation."

Staff reported Countryside Elementary is in year three of implementation; all but two teachers have been trained and the district is scheduling additional trainings and coaching walkthroughs. Rebecca Willie, literacy director, said Spalding does not explicitly teach all components of phonological awareness and that the district supplements those skills using resources it already owns (noting work with the 95% program in some schools). Willie estimated Spalding addresses roughly "3 of the 10 phonemic awareness skills" directly and that the district supplements the remaining skills.

Presenters described training as a mix of on‑site training days and follow‑up coaching walkthroughs with a Spalding trainer, with summer training for remaining staff estimated at about $1,800 per person. Staff said the district observed other implementations in Alhambra and Maricopa to inform local practice and plans to compare data year to year before scaling further.

Board members asked about costs, observed classroom practices, teacher feedback and how schools rank on state assessments. Staff said Freedom and Countryside report positive effects when implemented with fidelity and that expanded supports and phased training have improved teacher success.