Edina Public Schools: April 17th School Board Meeting
Monday, April 17, 2023
Excellence in Action: Letters Literacy Training Initiative
Comprehensive Literacy Plan for Grades 6-12
Student travel information
District policy reviews
Ratification of bond sales
287 partnership facility maintenance budget
Board committee updates
Areas of Interest (5)
- Shift in district literacy strategy from 26-letter word walls to 44-phoneme 'science of reading' model.
- Data reveals 6-7% increase in student literacy benchmarks following Letters training implementation.
- Strategic implementation of a 50-page 6-12 Comprehensive Literacy Plan to address post-pandemic learning gaps.
- Significant reliance on Edina Education Fund and City COVID-recovery funds to finance specialized teacher training.
- Potential curriculum evaluation and sunsetting of legacy courses in favor of science-based literacy instruction.
Votes (2)
Approve the agenda
Moved by Not stated · Seconded by Not stated
Approve the consent agenda
Moved by Not stated · Seconded by Not stated
Notable Quotes (2)
Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan in which we must fervently believe and upon we much vigorously act.
I'm often in circles in the Metro of curriculum leaders and they want to know more about how we're making this happen.
People (6)
Dr. StanleySuperintendentOversees board meeting and updates on school initiatives.
1 quote
Oversees board meeting and updates on school initiatives.
“This is the work we are standing behind and putting our work behind.”
Discussing the commitment to the Letters literacy initiative.
Bethany van OsdallAssistant Director of Teaching and LearningLead on the 6-12 comprehensive literacy plan and Letters training.
1 quote
Lead on the 6-12 comprehensive literacy plan and Letters training.
“The way we have always done things will not no longer be the same moving forward.”
Addressing the need for a shift in secondary literacy instruction.
Sandra HardleyLiteracy CoachExpert on the 'Letters' (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) program.
1 quote
Expert on the 'Letters' (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) program.
“Letters is a comprehensive extremely empowering professional learning all based on the science of reading.”
Defining the core philosophy of the Letters initiative.
Sue JohnsonReading InterventionistCountryside school teacher with 23 years experience.
1 quote
Countryside school teacher with 23 years experience.
“The biggest takeaway I've had from my experience with letters is just the importance of the explicit sequential instruction.”
Explaining the effectiveness of the training.
Alyssa BarnesKindergarten TeacherCountryside school teacher, 8 years of experience.
1 quote
Countryside school teacher, 8 years of experience.
“The biggest shift I've seen is just the anchor of our literacy shifting from the lens of 26 letters to the lens of 44 sounds.”
Comparing traditional methods to Letters.
Jody D. Singh-HubertDirector of Teaching and LearningSecondary literacy planning oversight.
Secondary literacy planning oversight.
Places Mentioned
Events & Meetings (1)
- April 17th, 7:00 PM