State reading initiative shared with school board Tuesday

With goals for at least 75 percent of third graders to be proficient readers by 2025, the Tennessee Department of Education rolled out Read to Be Ready in 2016.

Lewis County Schools did not adopt the program, Supervisor of Teaching and Learning Pat Couch explained to members of the Lewis County School Board last Tuesday, January 14, 2020. "And we outscored districts who used it."

All members of the board were present with Chairman Glenda Atkinson presiding.

As it goes with state programs, the Read to Be Ready initiative was replaced with Science of Reading. New commissioner, new program.

Stringent requirements under Science of Reading suggest all teachers may be required to become certified in five new components by the 2021-22 school year, Mrs. Couch added. If the Legislature approves the program.

Training is not expected to be available until August 2020, Couch reported.

"Enough is enough," Couch added, noting the training will be an expensive, time-consuming process for teachers.

Director of Schools Benny Pace told the Board the school would absorb any out-of-pocket costs for teachers, when asked by Board Member Cassie Couch.

"We are strong in our reading scores," Mrs. Couch said this week in a telephone interview."

Lewis County's PreK-2nd gains are measured as they enter intermediate school, grades 3-5. Percentages show 38.2 percent of Lewis County Intermediate students are on track or at grade level mastery, compared to a statewide average of 35.6 percent. In the South Central Tennessee region, 30.9 percent of students grades 3-5 are on track or at mastery.

Lewis County teachers already employ strategies included in the new program, Mrs. Couch continued.

"I just want us to continue to grow, not go back to re-invent the wheel. There is a learning curve for both teachers and students with new programs."

An update on the action plan at Lewis County High School was shared at the request of Board Member Lindsey Himes.

Teachers and administrators have met weekly, made use of extended time before and after school and examined data in response to the school being identified as a target school by the Tennessee Department of Education. LCHS will incorporate integrated math next year, Algebra I/Algebra II. "Schools with integrated math have greater success," Mrs. Couch stated.

Second quarter warrants and personnel changes, presented by Director Pace, were approved unanimously by the Board.