The School District of La Crosse, located on the western edge of Wisconsin, consists of 18 elementary, middle, high, and charter school programs with over 6,000 students. This district’s literacy journey demonstrates that educational silos can undermine student success but, by fostering collaboration within the district and among educators, schools can close those gaps and offer a curriculum that is both cohesive and progressive. This approach not only facilitates student advancement throughout their schooling but also enables teachers to promptly identify and support students in need of additional support. 

Before Implementing IMSE

Prior to the pandemic, every school in the School District of La Crosse had significant autonomy through a site-based approach when it came to the use of literacy programs and materials. While this had been historically effective, district leaders and educators realized that a number of students were moving on to middle school without essential reading skills. Once it was clear students were slipping through the cracks, the La Crosse School District knew they needed to transition from operating as a district of schools, operating independently, to an aligned school district.

More Confident Students and Teachers

During the 2021-22 school year, the district used its ESSER dollars and began its literacy journey with IMSE to better support all students of all reading levels. The following year, the state passed Wisconsin Act 20, requiring local public schools to administer early literacy screeners, then conduct “diagnostic assessments” for students in kindergarten through third grade who obtain a score below the 25th percentile in essential reading development skills and also create personalized reading plans for those students. The law also required that all 5K through third grade teachers and administrators participate in high quality literacy training endorsed by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction. IMSE’s literacy training met all the state’s updated requirements,  

Now, more than one hundred of the district’s K-3 teachers have been trained through IMSE. With a newly incorporated common scope and sequence, the district has seen a vast improvement in student literacy outcomes across the board. Not only do teachers enjoy the new organization and IMSE’s easily applicable tools, but students who previously struggled to read are making exponential improvements. 

Melissa Ender, Literacy Specialist for the district stated that one student who didn’t know her alphabet at the start of first grade now responds, “I love reading!” These positive developments are repeatedly seen throughout the district’s elementary classrooms.

When students who have struggled with reading begin to succeed, they realize their ability to persevere through challenges in other areas of life as well. As the School District of La Crosse continues to align its curriculum with IMSE’s tools and strategies, many more students and teachers will experience this confidence boost. What students are taught when learning how to read matters, but how it’s taught matters even more. 

To discover how other districts have successfully transformed their curriculum to achieve better literacy results, schedule a district training session with us today. Visit: https://imse.com/private-district-trainings/

 

 

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