Bright Spot: Brooks Elementary Teachers in Bullitt County Make the Shift to Explicit, Systematic Instruction in Foundational Skills
Brooks Elementary is currently in its first full year of implementing a resource developed by the University of Florida Literacy Institute called UFLI Foundations, an explicit and systematic program for teaching students foundational reading skills. Teachers from kindergarten to grade 3 are using UFLI in their Tier 1 instruction. With this transition, educators now have access to an explicit and systematic scope and sequence for teaching foundational skills. Previously, students were taught these skills through incidental phonics practices. Teachers have utilized time in PLCs internalizing UFLI lessons and analyzing their progress monitoring data to inform their instructional decisions for their students.
Initially, teachers felt skepticism and anxiety about UFLI, but they have since transformed to feelings of excitement and joy. Many teachers have stated that teaching UFLI has become their favorite part of the day.
Emily McWaters, a kindergarten teacher, shared, “Teaching UFLI is my favorite part of the day. I feel confident as a teacher, my students are engaged, and the routines make preparation easy. The best part is the impact on student learning. This school year, my kindergarten class improved from 45% on grade level to 86% after implementing UFLI.”
During the 2023-2024 school year, students demonstrated a 12% improvement in phonological awareness, a 22% increase in phonics, and a 20% growth in high-frequency words on the i-Ready screener from fall to spring. After a full year of UFLI implementation in the 2024-2025 school year, the i-Ready data showed even more significant gains in these areas from fall to spring. At Brooks Elementary, students improved their phonological awareness by 41%, phonics by 34%, and high-frequency words by 39%.
For more information about providing explicit, systematic instruction in foundational skills to every child, read Key Action #1 from Key Actions for Meeting the Needs of ALL K-3 Readers and Writers.
Make the Most of Your Day – Preview Kentucky’s Read to Succeed Sessions Now
 Registered for the second annual Reads to Succeed Summer Conference? If so, now is the time to see who is presenting and what topics will be covered on June 13, 2025. Plan your conference experience by selecting the sessions you prefer to attend in PheedLoop. While advance selection does not reserve a seat, having a plan will help you make the most of your day. Since some sessions may reach capacity, please also consider alternate sessions in advance.
Registration for the Kentucky Reading Academies: Cohort 4 of LETRS Professional Learning NOW OPEN
Registration for the fourth Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) cohort of the Kentucky Reading Academies will be open from May 1, 2025, through Aug. 22, 2025.
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will continue the exciting partnership that brings the LETRS professional learning to educators across the Commonwealth, called the Kentucky Reading Academies. This course of study was chosen because of its demonstrated success on a national scale in bringing significant increases in literacy achievement.
The Kentucky Reading Academies is a comprehensive no-cost professional learning opportunity open to all K-5 public school educators. More than 6,000 Kentucky educators and administrators have participated or are currently participating in the LETRS professional learning opportunity.
Two different courses are being offered through the Kentucky Reading Academies: LETRS for Educators and LETRS for Administrators. Descriptions of each are following:
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LETRS for Educators Cohort 4: This course is recommended for K-5 teachers, interventionists, reading specialists, instructional coaches and anyone providing reading instruction or intervention supports to early readers.
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LETRS for Administrators Cohort 4: This course is recommended for instructional coaches who have completed LETRS for Educators, district leaders and building administrators.
Interested educators and administrators can register on the Kentucky Reading Academies webpage beginning May 1. Registrants will indicate which course they are enrolling in when completing the registration form.
PLEASE NOTE: Limited licenses are available for Cohort 4. Registration will be first come, first served. Once we reach capacity, registrants will be placed on a waitlist and invited as licenses become available. Registration does not guarantee enrollment into the professional learning.
Also of note: Cohort 3 participants will not need to register for Cohort 4 as they are already enrolled in the professional learning.
Find out more about the Kentucky Reading Academies on the Kentucky Reading Academies webpage.
For questions about the Kentucky Reading Academies, please email KDE Director of Early Literacy Christie Biggerstaff.
Resources for Summer Learning
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) supports family engagement all year long. During the school year, the Standards Family Guides are a resource parents and caregivers may use to initiate conversations with their children regarding what they are learning at school.
Learning can continue when school is not in session. The summer months are an opportunity to further encourage families to enjoy literacy and numeracy experiences together in their own homes.
To support educators, parents, families and caregivers in encouraging summer learning, KDE is providing resources through the Summer Support webpages to help keep children’s minds active. Available resources include:
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Literacy Resources - Find free resources available online that provide access to books, audiobooks, read alouds, and other literacy materials.
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Read at Home Plan Family Guide - This document assists teachers in supporting and encouraging families as they engage in their child’s Read at Home Plan. The included printable guide provides information to strengthen families' understanding about what all children need to know and be able to do for skilled reading, as well as activities to help their child become a skilled reader.
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Mathematics Resources - Visit this page to find collections of math games, math discussion starters and more for families to use together.
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Virtual Read Aloud Series - Hear stories read by guests from the KDE, Kentucky high school graduates and authors.
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Summer Food Service Program - Visit the KDE Summer Food Service Program webpage for information on the program and how to become a sponsor.
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School and Public Libraries - Find out how to partner with your school and/or public library to enhance your student’s summer learning.
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Gifted and Talented Resources - Find a list of agencies and organizations that provide resources and services to Primary Talent Pool (PTP) and Gifted and Talented (GT) students, families, and service providers.
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Accelerating Student Learning During the Summer and Academic School Year- This guidance document focuses on evidence-based strategies for accelerating student learning through summer learning programs and during the academic school year. Also included are best practices for developing effective summer programs.
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Council of Chief State School Officers Summer Learning and Enrichment: State Guidance for District and School Leaders - This document provides a framework for planning with vetted resources to assist districts and schools as they make decisions for summer learning and enrichment.
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