March 8, 2023
According to the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 62% of fourth-grade students in Kentucky demonstrated reading skills at or above the basic level of performance. This suggests that elementary school students are not receiving the instruction needed to become proficient readers.
The University of Louisville Structured Literacy Project (UL-SLP) was recently selected for $80,000 in funding by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education to tackle the growing concern of reading literacy among students. The project's primary objective is building capacity for Reach to Achieve (RTA) awarded K-3 teachers through additional training.
Through the Kentucky Department of Education Read to Achieve (RTA): Reading Diagnostic and Intervention Grant schools can access funds that support teachers in implementing evidence-based instructional strategies that address the diverse needs of primary students struggling with low reading levels.
The new project will be spearheaded by faculty from the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). Co-directors, Amy Seely Flint (Literacy Education), Todd Whitney (Special Education) and Justin Cooper (Special Education) have extensive knowledge in reading and multi-tier support systems. “We’re really confident in this project because it will address the need for explicit and systematic instruction in the five areas of reading,” said Whitney.
UL-SLP will offer a one week, in-person summer training for 30 local RTA awarded K-3 classroom teachers with structured literacy approaches and valid and reliable universal screener and diagnostic data. “This is an in-depth professional development opportunity for teachers,” said Seely Flint. “It’s like a literacy camp in some ways and participants will be able to immediately incorporate this into their classroom practice.”
UL-SLP will recruit participants through an array of partners like the Southeast South-Central Educational Cooperative (SESC) and the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative (OVEC). Teachers from across the state will learn essential background knowledge, phonological and phonemic awareness, decoding and word recognition, fluency, vocabulary, language comprehension, and using assessments to differentiate instruction. “Not only is this a great opportunity for teachers but it’s also an opportunity for us to work with educational co-ops and get into schools that we don’t typically work with,” said Cooper.
Also featured in UofL News: UofL to train teachers in literacy-boosting program
About the College of Education and Human Development:
Founded in 1968, the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is a vibrant community that prepares students for leadership in a variety of metropolitan settings including schools, public and private corporations, and governmental agencies.
CEHD embraces the University's mission to advance the intellectual, cultural, and economic development of our diverse communities and citizens. Our commitment to student success is unparalleled as we promote the highest levels of learning and social, emotional, and physical health and well-being for all children, individuals, and families.
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