Reading is Key: An MPUSD Literacy Initiative
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What Research Shows
Research shows students who can read and comprehend the information in early childhood are better prepared to understand more complex subjects later in life. Specifically, “Students who read with understanding at an early age gain access to a broader range of texts, knowledge, and educational opportunities, making early reading comprehension instruction particularly critical,” according to a 2010 research panel of educators coordinated by the Institute of Education Sciences.
Monterey Peninsula Takes Action
The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District understands the value of early literacy and prioritized early learning in 2016 when it established transitional kindergarten in every elementary school for all four-year-olds born before March 1, a younger age than state guidelines at the time.
“This was a major equity strategy shift to supporting early learning and focus on reading in our primary grades,” said Cresta McIntosh, Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services. “Our Board of Education allocated funding from our Local Control Accountability Plan with the goal of improving student performance in the early years.
During the 2022-2023 school year, MPUSD continued its focus on improving reading levels in grades preschool through third grade with the goal of ensuring every child is able to read at or above grade level by the end of third grade. This goal aligns to the state’s priority of meeting the same mark by 2026.
This school year (2023-2024), MPUSD has doubled down on its reading efforts launching a “Reading is Key” literacy initiative focused on helping students achieve fluency in phonics to reach its reading goal. Additionally, this initiative highlights administrators, teachers, staff, and students who have worked extraordinarily hard to focus on literacy efforts.
Leading Experts Applaud MPUSD’s Efforts
The district has partnered with literacy experts, including California Education Partners and Chartwell, to support its work and the fruits of its labor is paying off. In January 2024, PACE, the Policy Analysis for California Education, highlighted the exemplary work MPUSD is doing to create access to reading.
PACE credits MPUSD’s robust data-driven system to monitor student progress and support high-quality instruction. The system allows the district to see student progress on the way to proficiency by third grade, as well as to examine whether current instruction is maintaining the acceleration experienced by students who attend transitional kindergarten.
“We are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of students who are developing strong foundational reading skills in our primary grades,” said Joe Sampson, Principal Ord Terrace Elementary School. “Students are much more confident and excited about reading.”
“The Reading is Key initiative has highlighted the urgency and importance of developing our students as readers by way of a comprehensive instructional program,” said Robin Connery, Principal, Marshall Elementary School. “This year, there has been a call to action for all to build and teach foundational skills at our primary grade levels.”
For the district’s 10 elementary and TK-8 schools, this means:
- Investments in quality curriculum
- Teacher training
- Collaboration across the system
“We have seen increased instructional knowledge as a result of our consistent routines and practices,” said PK Diffenbaugh, Superintendent, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. “The growth in daily classroom instruction and increasing confidence in teaching foundational skills is evident in classrooms across the district. We are already seeing the impacts of student growth in foundational skills.”
Compared to 2022-2023, most MPUSD’s schools are in high growth or moving into high growth. “We are seeing dividends in the work we are doing and are confident in reaching our reading targets,” said McIntosh.
What’s Next?
To learn more about MPUSD’s efforts, as well as its curriculum, visit our website at www.mpusd.net/readingiskey