Ohio's Early Literacy Plan
Improving student outcomes through early literacy is a top priority for Ohio. Ohio is targeting early literacy because data shows that it’s predictive of academic success, school completion and college and career readiness.
Ohio’s Early Literacy plan is aimed at leveraging resources, such as parent partnerships, teacher capacity, and state systems of support, over the next several years to achieve high student results. These resources include: high-quality instruction that is more accessible; a language-rich environment in and outside of school; a system that delivers appropriate academic and behavioral supports; and effective literacy instruction and interventions for students with disabilities in less restrictive settings. The goal is to have all Ohio students reading proficient or above by the end of third grade, and to have all students ready for college, career and/or independent living.
Ohio’s Early Literacy Initiative utilizes many resources, including the LETRS professional development series.
LETRS is:
- A professional learning program based on a proven approach with documented growth of student reading scores in multiple states;
- Professional development that sharpens educators’ abilities to diagnose why students are struggling and how to provide proven interventions; and
- More than face-to-face professional training. It includes Web-based learning and a networking platform, individual coaching and the opportunity to develop district-level experts.
- A comprehensive approach to professional development that covers foundations of reading instruction; comprehension, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, word study, spelling and assessment
- Supports for all early childhood educators, paraprofessionals, administrators, speech language pathologists and district literacy coaches and leaders.
- Not a replacement for a school’s current core reading program
More Early Literacy Ohio Resources can be found here: