Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Literacy Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Marysville program Building Blocks to Literacy wins CSBA Golden Bell Award, district cites 37.5% gain in third-grade ELA
Summary
District staff presented the CSBA Golden Bell Award for the teacher-led 'Building Blocks to Literacy' plan and reported that third-grade ELA proficiency rose 37.5% since 2022–23; the program emphasizes high-quality instruction, data-driven assessment, professional development and family engagement.
The Marysville Joint Unified School District on Dec. 9 announced that its Building Blocks to Literacy initiative received a Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association, a statewide honor for innovative and effective educational programs.
Bob Eckhardt introduced the presentation and Laurie Guy, director of Data and Student Improvement, described the district's four-pillar approach: high-quality instruction, data-driven assessment, professional development and family engagement. Guy told trustees the plan is teacher-driven and district-wide and said, "Our work has already increased third-grade ELA proficiency by 37.5% since we started in 2022–23 on the CAST scores." She credited sustained teacher leadership, board support and cross-department collaboration.
The presentation noted board involvement in a Read Across America resolution and teacher representation in program development. The district distributed small bell mementos to board members and to staff who helped prepare the application materials.
Why it matters: the award highlights a multi-year effort to improve early literacy outcomes, an area state accountability systems emphasize; trustees were presented with data and implementation details as the district plans to continue literacy investments.
Next steps: staff will continue implementation and professional learning tied to the plan; the board received the presentation and acknowledged staff contributions.
