Fallbrook board approves expansion of Ignite Reading tutoring and 2026-27 afterschool plan

The Fallbrook Union Elementary School District governing board voted unanimously to approve the districtwide Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) plan and a contract with Ignite Reading for the 2026-27 school year following a detailed presentation and pilot results.

Director Lily Perez told the board that the district's afterschool program has grown from about 599 students in 2022 to roughly 2,150 students across enrichment and extended-day offerings. Perez highlighted partnerships with the Boys and Girls Clubs and Feeding San Diego, increased family engagement events, and measurable outcomes for literacy and social-emotional supports. "Parents consistently reported high levels of satisfaction," Perez said, summarizing survey results that showed students found the program engaging, safe and academically supportive.

Assistant Superintendent Miss Tava Bustani and Dr. Anna Ara Aras presented results from a pilot of Ignite Reading, a high-dosage, 15-minute daily one-on-one virtual tutoring program. Dr. Aras said the pilot began at Falber STEM Academy with 40 students and later expanded to serve 181 students districtwide (144 first graders and 37 second graders). She reported attendance of about 86% and described group-level gains: "Following participation in Ignite, the percentage of students reading at first grade skills grew from 24% to 77%," she said, and noted average growth measures including roughly six months of reading progress and a fluency increase of about seven words correct per minute.

The board heard a parent account from Janet James, who wrote that her daughter progressed from struggling readers to reading texts aloud confidently after the tutoring. A first-grade student, Roxanne, said during the presentation, "He taught me how to break up words. He taught me how to put them together and he taught me how to sound out words. I liked it." The board used those data and family testimony in its deliberations.

Votes at a glance: The ELO afterschool plan and the Ignite Reading contract each passed on unanimous roll-call votes recorded in the meeting minutes.

What the contract and program will do: The Ignite contract funds continued one-on-one daily tutoring for early readers, paired with district supports (facilitators, breakfast availability, and incentives) aimed at maximizing attendance and punctuality so that students benefit from the short, intensive sessions. District staff said tutors remained consistent with students throughout the year to support continuity of instruction.

Why it matters: The board framed the action as an equity initiative targeting students with the greatest academic needs early in their reading development. Officials said catching students in first grade is a priority to prevent larger gaps later in elementary school.

Next steps: District staff will implement the contract and continue monitoring progress via local assessment systems and shared metrics (MClass and site-level monitoring). The board approved the ELO plan and Ignite contract at the meeting and did not take further amendments on the floor.