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Reading Literacy Initiative
Sunnyside’s Reading Literacy Initiative is targeted at raising the reading and writing achievement of all K-12 students to ensure that all students become proficient readers.
Eight Sunnyside elementary schools are currently participating in a Reading First grant specifically designated for K-3 reading. As part of this federal grant, teachers will receive ongoing professional development in Scientifically-Based Reading Research (SBRR), for explicit and systematic instruction in five key areas: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and text comprehension.
District support and resources will be provided to the remaining six elementary schools and all five middle schools to facilitate daily direct, explicit, systematic reading instruction. In addition, effective intervention lessons will be adopted to accelerate student learning. Job-embedded professional development and collaboration are essential components of the Reading First model that will also be provided districtwide.
Common K-5 and 6-10 research-based core reading programs, including targeted tiered interventions, will be implemented in stages in fall of 2008, beginning with middle school. A 90-minute literacy block and additional intervention periods will be included at all levels of instruction.
- Increase the reading achievement scores of students in grades 3-8 and 10 by 20% as measured by the state standardized assessment (AIMS) by spring 2009.
- By May 21, 2008, 20-30% of K-5 students from the At-Risk and Some-Risk categories will move to the Benchmark category (Low-Risk) as measured by the DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) reading assessment.
- By May 2009, 85% of students will be reading at grade level when they transition from fifth to sixth grade, and from eighth to ninth grade. Students who are not reading
at grade level will be required to attend summer school and enroll in sixth-grade or ninth-grade reading classes. - All K-8 special education reading teachers will use the core curriculum for the 2008-09 school year.
