Gloucester schools expand literacy screening to preK–8, add individualized reading plans

At its Jan. 13 meeting the Gloucester County School Board received an update on the district’s division literacy plan, including a change to expand VALS (the district screening tool) from K–3 to preK–8 for targeted groups and a new process for individualized reading plans.

Staff said the expanded screening is intended to identify students at risk for reading difficulties earlier and more broadly so interventions can be applied promptly. Under the revised plan, preK–3 students are screened universally in fall and winter; third graders flagged as high risk and fourth through eighth graders who failed the prior year’s reading SOL will also be screened and, if identified, placed on individualized reading plans that set goals and intervention strategies. The district reported that reading plans will be housed in PowerSchool’s Analytics & Insights module to protect confidentiality and retain year-to-year data.

Presenters described a multi-tiered approach (tier 1 high‑quality core instruction for all students, plus evidence‑based targeted interventions) and described progress monitoring between VALS administrations. Staff also summarized a middle-school literacy audit that included walkthroughs of English classes and produced recommendations for unpacking standards and raising the cognitive level of instruction.

Board members asked whether families from other attendance zones can attend events at different schools (staff said family events generally serve their own school communities but are not restricted), and emphasized the importance of family engagement events and guest readers.

What happens next: staff said the district will continue progress monitoring, implement reading plans to fidelity and report mid‑year MTSS data reviews in February to inform second-semester instruction.