The December 12, 2024, Board of Education meeting for the Hyde Park Central School District (HPCSD) focused on significant advancements in literacy instruction and student performance metrics. The meeting highlighted the district's ongoing efforts to improve reading proficiency rates among students, particularly in the wake of recent assessments.

The discussion began with an overview of the district's short cycle data project, which has led to a notable increase in student proficiency rates from 27.9% to 37.4%. While acknowledging that a 37% proficiency rate remains below acceptable levels, district officials emphasized a decrease in the number of students performing at the lowest level, with an 8.8% reduction in third graders classified as level 1. The fourth-grade proficiency rate also saw an increase of approximately 13%.

Superintendent Jen provided insights into the district's literacy audit, initiated 18 months prior, which aimed to address challenges in decoding skills among elementary students. The audit involved a committee of teachers and administrators who analyzed existing curricula and identified gaps, particularly in phonics instruction. As a result, the district has adopted new literacy assessments aligned with the science of reading, focusing on foundational skills and comprehension.

A key resource introduced this year is YouFLY, a structured phonics program designed to enhance decoding instruction for students in grades 3-5. This program is intended to support both tier 1 and tier 2 interventions, ensuring that teachers are equipped with the necessary tools to address diverse student needs. The superintendent shared a positive anecdote from a third-grade teacher who reported significant improvements in student engagement and learning outcomes using the new assessments and resources.

Looking ahead, the district plans to provide comprehensive training in the science of reading for all K-6 teachers and reconvene the district literacy leadership team in the spring. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is expected to provide additional curriculum evaluation materials, which the district will utilize to ensure alignment with state standards.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to fostering a collaborative environment among teachers, families, and community partners to enhance literacy instruction. The district aims to achieve an 85% proficiency rate by the end of third grade, emphasizing the importance of strong foundational skills and ongoing professional development for educators. Regular communication with families, including the distribution of growth reports during parent conferences, was also highlighted as a critical component of the district's strategy to engage parents in their children's literacy development.