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State official announces Governor of Science of Reading recognition program; Elyria schools showcased for early gains
Summary
A state education official announced a new Governor of Science of Reading Recognition Program to honor Ohio schools aligned with the science of reading. Elyria district leaders and teachers described a five‑year curriculum audit, phased adoption of Amplify materials, and measurable growth among second graders.
A state education official announced a new Governor of Science of Reading Recognition Program intended to honor Ohio schools that have aligned instruction with the science of reading, and a profile of Elyria schools showed how a multi‑year curriculum and coaching push produced early gains in elementary grades.
"And so today, I'm happy to announce that some of our high achieving schools across Ohio will soon be honored through our new Governor of Science of Reading Recognition Program," the agency official said, announcing the statewide effort to recognize districts that adopt science‑aligned literacy practices.
The program announcement was paired with a profile of Elyria, just west of Cleveland, where local educators described a deliberate, multi‑year rollout of new curriculum and teacher supports. "About 5 years ago, we started with, taking a look at our our literacy program, and we we did an audit of our our resources," a teacher from Elyria said, describing the district's decision to review materials and rebuild its approach from the ground up.
District staff and classroom teachers described a phased implementation. In early years Elyria focused on kindergarten through second grade, using modeling and coaching so teachers could implement the program with fidelity. "We wanted our goal in year 1 to just be 1 step ahead of the teachers," another classroom teacher said, describing a strategy of demonstration and steady support rather than immediate wholesale change.
Leaders said the district adopted Amplify CKLA in elementary classrooms and this year moved to Amplify ELA for grades 5–8. Elyria teachers reported that students who experienced three years of the instructional shift—particularly second graders—had shown the most measurable growth, more engagement in class, and stronger writing samples. "They can articulate their thoughts, and they like coming to school," a teacher said of the students.
School staff said year‑two work focused on using assessment data to refine instruction and deepen teacher collaboration. The district emphasized teacher teams sharing practice and calibrating expectations so gains could be sustained and scaled into middle‑school grades.
The episode closed by previewing a forthcoming segment on the only middle school in Ohio to earn the Governor's Science of Reading Champion Award and directing listeners to education.ohio.gov for more information about the statewide literacy work.
No formal policy votes or funding amounts were announced in the segment; the recognition program was described as an honor for schools already implementing science‑aligned literacy practices.
