Presenters say KW Reading Improvement Project raised early‑grade proficiency from 15% to more than 60% after pilot

Presenters from the Goodhue County Education District and River Bluff Education Center updated the Kenyon‑Wanamingo board on the district’s Reading Improvement Project, describing the program model, parent‑extension strategies, and multi‑year cohort results. Jess Litcombe, the district’s director of equity and instructional services, and Weston Johnson, the county instructional coach and early reading coordinator, credited teacher partnerships and targeted early intervention for the gains.

Weston described the program’s approach as an extension of classroom interventions to parents and said his model grew out of research: “So learn coach is kind of the program that you're using, the reading program. That's actually what my dissertation focused on.” He walked the board through slides showing foundational reading proficiency: “the 1st year prior to the project, we were at 15% proficiency at the end of the school year in kindergarten. Right after the project, we jumped up to 62%.” Presenters noted some year‑to‑year fluctuation and explained that a small number of high‑risk students who moved into the district affected this year’s numbers, but they emphasized improving identification and earlier intervention. The board welcomed the results and asked staff to continue sharing updated FastBridge results and cohort analyses going forward.