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Newport-Mesa board hears results of early-literacy push and plans wider Heggerty use
Summary
District presenters said targeted phonics instruction, screening with Acadience and Heggerty lessons have contributed to early gains; the board heard details on teacher training and plans to expand supports into grade 2 and intervention tiers.
Newport-Mesa Unified School District trustees on Aug. 22 received an update on early-literacy work that district staff say is improving reading outcomes for the youngest students.
School officials described a mix of assessments, a focused phonics curriculum and expanded professional development as the pillars of the effort. “When we refer to early literacy, we’re referring to a compilation of skills required to become fluent readers,” a district presenter said, explaining the use of Acadience screening three times a year and the Heggerty (Bridge to Reading) program for phonemic awareness and phonics.
Why it matters: Trustees were shown classroom demonstrations and data indicating progress between the start and end of last year, and staff said early- grade interventions can reduce later remediation needs. Presenters said Heggerty supplements — rather than replaces — the Wonders program, and that the bridges between screening and targeted supports let teachers intervene earlier.
What the board was told: Staff said about 59 K–2 classroom teachers plus about 70 support and special-education staff have taken the deeper implementation cohort, and 43 preschool/TK teachers have participated in letters/early-childhood training. The district described tiered responses: screening with Acadience, targeted small-group instruction, and tier 2/3 interventions for students who need more intensive support.
Trustees asked about rollout and measurement. Staff said the initial cohort focused on support teachers and special-education staff, with a second cohort of classroom teachers underway; additional LETRS-style training was available as a voluntary, deeper professional development. In response to board requests for school-level accountability, staff agreed to provide spreadsheets showing baseline, midyear and year-end results by school.
What’s next: Officials said they will move Heggerty materials into second grade this year, continue training cycles and provide one-page data summaries on the district website. The presentation closed with an invitation for trustees to visit classrooms to see the methods in action.
The board did not take formal action on curriculum adoption during this item; the discussion provided implementation details and next-step reporting commitments.
