At Canutillo ISD, a quarter-million-dollar grant is reportedly making waves in literacy education. Educators at Damian Elementary recently showcased their progress rooted in the Texas Reads, Texas Leads (TXRL) program, tailored to enhance reading skills in students from kindergarten through third grade. According to Canutillo ISD, this initiative is part of a statewide effort that involves 16 districts, aiming to secure foundational reading skills for young students.
During the event, attendees visited classrooms to observe reading lessons, witnessing the application of evidence-based strategies in real time. The TXRL training, under the aegis of a hefty grant from the Butt and Moody foundations, has provided professional development, updated curricula, and instructional coaching. "Our teachers are empowered with research-based tools and our students are already showing measurable gains in their reading achievement," conveyed Interim Superintendent Dr. Jesica Arellano, as per Canutillo ISD. The TXRL initiative not only updates instruction but purports to change lives in the process.
At the heart of these changes are daily structured literacy lessons, small-group learning based on student data, and personalized practice. Teachers and visitors at the showcase saw students rotating through targeted small groups, fine-tuning the skills they glean from these new instructional models. "We know that students who are strong readers by third grade are more likely to succeed in every subject,” Dr. Arellano told Canutillo ISD, emphasizing the foundational significance of these early investments in literacy.
