GISD Launches Literacy First Program to Boost Early Reading Skills
In a powerful new push to strengthen early literacy, Georgetown Independent School District (GISD) has partnered with the University of Texas Dana Center to bring the Literacy First Early Reading Intervention program to its elementary campuses. The initiative began in January and is already showing promising results for young readers in kindergarten through third grade.
“The Literacy First program is designed to provide targeted support to students who need additional help developing foundational reading skills,” said Chief Academic Officer Sonja Howard.
Following an intensive round of staff training in January, paraprofessional staff began working directly with students in February. The program emphasizes daily one-on-one sessions with students, guided by trained staff and supported by expert early literacy coaches.
Currently, the program is being piloted at two GISD elementary campuses: Cooper Elementary and Frost Elementary. So far, 20 students at Cooper and 10 students at Frost have participated in the program. Nine students have successfully completed the intervention, or “graduated,” making space for nine more students to begin their reading journey. With more students expected to graduate this spring, the momentum continues to build.
“Literacy First also provides tools to grade-level teachers to enhance all student's reading fluency skills,” said Megan Chambley, Frost Principal. “This widens the impact on students and empowers teachers to systematically target specific skills needed for effective reading. Seeing students’ confidence in reading rise so quickly has been incredible to witness.”
The ultimate goal is to expand the Literacy First program at the beginning of the next school year to all campuses that need Tier 2 literacy intervention. GISD hopes that by catching reading challenges early and addressing them consistently, more students will gain the skills and confidence needed to succeed throughout their academic careers.
“This isn’t just about reading,” said Howard. “It’s about opening doors for kids and setting them up for lifelong success.” “This program is not only helping individual students grow—it’s also giving us a model for how to strengthen literacy support district-wide.”
As GISD looks ahead, district leaders are optimistic about the broader impact the Literacy First program could have. With continued support, training, and expansion, the program could help rewrite the literacy story for hundreds of students across the district.
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Research shows that students who read on or above grade level by third grade have better academic outcomes in the future. The Literacy First program supports the district and superintendent's goals to improve the percentage of students reading on grade level. Already this school year, the district has seen gains in the number of students reading at grade level in grades K-5 from 49% to 57%. The work continues.
Learn more about the district’s Strategic Direction including priorities focused on student learning, growth and progress on our website at www.georgetownisd.org/about-gisd/strategic-direction.
