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Garden City credits 'science of reading' curriculum for early reading gains
Summary
Superintendent Derek Fisher says the district adopted a benchmark ELA curriculum aligned to the science of reading two years ago and that early‑grade students are showing measurable gains, supported by reading coaches.
Derek Fisher said the district adopted a benchmark ELA curriculum two years ago that emphasizes phonemic awareness, vowel sounds and structured word‑attack strategies. "We're seeing great gains, as evidenced by our high NWA scores," Fisher said, pointing to early‑grade success at Memorial and Douglas.
Fisher described the curriculum as aligned to state recommendations and said teachers and two reading coaches in early elementary buildings have strongly embraced the program. He identified the 3rd‑grade milestone — the transition from learning to read to reading to learn — as central to the district's literacy strategy and said continued emphasis will be a priority in 2026–27.
