Latest news with #ScienceofReading
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Milken Educator Award winner Holly Hunter honored by Gov. Kim Reynolds
Veteran third grade teacher and 2024-25 Milken Educator Award recipient Holly Hunter has been honored by Gov. Kim Reynolds with the presentation of the award at the state Capitol. Hunter's May 13 meeting with Reynolds and Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow was another highlight to a whirlwind year that started on Jan. 16 with a surprise announcement at Davis Elementary School that she was a Milken recipient. Hunter also received a trip to the Milken Educator Awards Forum in California and $25,000 to use as she wishes. The Milken is awarded to early to mid-career educators who are "furthering excellence in education," according to the organization's January news release. Hunter is one of 48 Iowa teachers who have received the national honor, according to the Iowa Department of Education's website. Related: Adel high schooler battles brittle bone disease to graduate high school Hunter — a 2011 Grinnell High School graduate — began teaching at Davis in 2017. Her connection to the community goes so far back that her current classroom is the same room where she attended third grade. "I love my job and my biggest thing is I love building relationships," she said in an interview with the Des Moines Register. "So, relationships with my coworkers is important and being visible and helpful on committees." Her classroom relationships are her No. 1 priority. "I think winning an award like this kind of validates that what you're doing is making a difference," Hunter said. Hunter was excited to meet Reynolds during the presentation. The two chatted briefly about Hunter's experiences in the classroom and Reynolds told Hunter about her own daughter's work as a teacher. Hunter also met with several people from the Iowa Department of Education. "It was my honor to present the 2024 Iowa Milken Educator Award to Holly Hunter! Holly is a third-grade teacher at Davis Elementary," Reynolds posted on social media. "With this award, she has been recognized as one of our country's finest educators!" Related: These 28 high school graduating seniors from the Des Moines area each have a story to tell In the January news release announcing, Snow congratulated Hunter on the award and praised her work with students. 'Across Iowa, dedicated educators like Holly are ensuring every student receives evidence-based instruction that empowers them to be proficient readers by the end of third grade,' Snow said at the time. 'Holly is a leader in schoolwide Science of Reading implementation, modeling best practices that have the greatest impact on student achievement and growth." Around Davis Elementary — which is part of the Grinnell-Newburg Community School District — Hunter is known for being a member of various committees, helping with school initiatives, her overall leadership and is a "family favorite as a third grade teacher," said Principal Brian Conway. Related: What to know about Iowa's fifth-place ranking for preschool attendance "Some of the reasons that she was nominated for (the Milken) is she's been taking on leadership opportunities within our building, in our district from a young age," he said. "And she is someone who works tirelessly to build really positive relationships with her kids and her families." Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@ Follow her on Twitter at @svhernandez or Facebook at This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Milken Award winner Holly Hunter honored by Gov. Kim Reynolds
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana Pre K-12 education rises in national rankings, according to ‘U.S. News & World Report'
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Louisiana continues to make its way up the U.S. News & World Report Best States rankings. In the most recent ranking, the state came in 37th for Pre–K–12 education. The new ranking is up three spots from last year and marks a third straight year where Louisiana has seen an increase. The state has gone from 41 to 40 and now 37 in the publisher's rankings. The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) pointed to offering students high-dosage tutoring support, refreshing foundational math, and executing the Science of Reading, among other things. These gains in the U.S. News & World Report rankings followed news earlier this year that students in the state achieved their highest rankings ever on The Nation's Report Card. Among the gains there, Louisiana went from 49th in 2019 to 32nd in the overall average rankings. 4th grade and 8th grade reading and math also saw improvement in the rankings. 'Louisiana is the most rapidly improving state in the country when it comes to education,' said Louisiana State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley. 'These consistent national gains are the result of intentional strategy, focused instruction, and the hard work of educators, students, and parents across our state.' 8 Baton Rouge Magnet High students achieve perfect ACT scores College baseball notebook: SEC leader Texas latest to get knocked off during Gators' late-season run CBO: House GOP plan exceeds $880 billion savings target Amber Heard welcomes twins, reveals their names Trump signs executive order aimed at slashing prescription drug costs RFK Jr. goes swimming in DC's Rock Creek despite ban over bacteria Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Darlington County School District appoints new superintendent
DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — The next superintendent of Darlington County School District was named by the Darlington County Board of Education at a special-called meeting Monday night. Dr. Matthew Ferguson, a Darlington County native, currently serves as the deputy superintendent and chief academic officer for the SCDE. He will assume his new role as on July 1 from outgoing Superintendent Dr. Tim Newman. Since 2023, Ferguson has been with the SCDE and led several key initiatives focused on improving academic outcomes. He also deployed the Science of Reading training for over 19,000 educators statewide, and launched the Palmetto Math Project. 'Serving at the South Carolina Department of Education has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my career,' Ferguson said. 'I've seen firsthand the dedication, expertise, and unwavering belief in every child that drives this agency, and I'm proud of what we've been able to accomplish together.' Ferguson first began his education career in Darlington County as a high school English teacher, and has previously held leadership roles such as director of personnel, district curriculum coordinator, and executive director of the education oversight committee for the district. 'Stepping into this new role is both exciting and humbling. Returning home to service the community that shaped me is deeply personal. While my job title may be changing, my commitment to the work – and to the belief that every child deserves a great education – remains as strong as ever.' 'The Board recognized that we have an unusual opportunity with perfect timing,' Wanda Hassler, chair of the Darlington County Board of Education, said. 'This was our chance to fill the superintendent's role with a highly qualified Darlington County native with extensive education and leadership experience at both DSDC and the state levels.' State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver said, 'While our SCDE family will dearly miss Matthew and his tireless work ethic and expertise, we know this is an exciting new pathway to expand our shared mission to build a bright education future for students in every corner of our state. The students, parents, and educators of Darlington County have gained a fierce and committed champion in their new Superintendent. I can promise them that no one will work harder on their behalf.' Dr. Ferguson and his wife, Kylie, have four children and look forward to them attending and thriving in Darlington County Schools. The district will host a series of community meet-and-greet events in the coming weeks to give families, staff, and community members the opportunity to connect with the new superintendent. * * * Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Education board votes to finalize embrace of phonics-based reading instruction for South Dakota
Students work on schoolwork at Harrisburg School District's Journey Elementary School in Sioux Falls on Dec. 5, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) It's out with the new and in with the old again for students in South Dakota's English and Language Arts classrooms. The South Dakota Board of Education Standards approved revisions to the English and language arts state standards Monday in Rapid City, aligning them with a once-abandoned instructional approach in hopes of improving students' declining reading scores. The revision follows a global debate — often called the 'reading wars' — about how best to teach children to read. One side advocates for phonics, which focuses on the relationship between sounds and letters. The other prefers a 'whole language' approach that puts a stronger emphasis on meaning, with some phonics mixed in. A phonics-based approach was widely used in the 20th century until a 'balanced literacy' approach that includes phonics but favors whole language gained favor in the 2000s. Noem's phonics literacy effort advances in Legislature Low reading scores in recent years led to a push to reconsider the merits of the phonics-based 'science of reading' methodology. Just under 50% of South Dakota students didn't meet English and language arts standards last year, according to the state report card. Studies in recent years have re-ignited interest in phonics as a learning tool, and one South Dakota school district presented results Monday that suggest it can work. Douglas School District leaders presented the district's increased literacy rates since implementing science of reading curriculum district-wide in 2021. Fifty-five percent of Douglas elementary students in the spring of 2019 did not meet expected standards for reading ability, according to district student assessments. The district made systemic changes, such as hiring instructional coaches and allowing all students to apply for Title I interventions, in addition to implementing science of reading methodology. In the same year the district implemented the science of reading strategy, rates above expected standards increased to 64% of students. That grew to 72% district-wide by the spring of 2024. 'Our teachers are working tirelessly to meet the needs of all students, and this success doesn't happen overnight,' said Ann Pettit, Douglas executive director of elementary curriculum and instruction. Board of Education Standards Board President Steve Perkins said the data shows 'things can be done' to address English and language arts proficiencies in the state. The state put $6 million toward training teachers in phonics during the 2024 state legislative session. Part of the funding will go toward courses to train teachers in phonics-based teaching methods, and some will be used to pay for a literacy conference on Science of Reading strategies. A $54 million Comprehensive Literacy State Development federal grant awarded, meanwhile, is set to help local school districts implement a phonics-based approach over the next five years. The grants will be awarded based on the number of low-income students in a district, and can be used for literacy coach salaries, teacher training or curriculum reviews. On Monday, Perkins said the changed standards are a 'big deal.' 'If kids can't read — or don't read to standard is a better way to put it — then we're shortchanging them,' Perkins said. The unanimous vote came after a fourth public hearing on the standards. Board members also approved optional content standards for computer science and the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings, which educate students on the culture and traditions of Indigenous South Dakotans. Survey says nearly two-thirds of SD educators use Indigenous standards Several opponents with connections to South Dakota's tribal nations borders spoke against the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings revisions. Opponents criticized the underrepresentation of Dakota and Nakota tribes in the revised standards, and said there should be a more concerted effort to involve tribes. 'The problem with this process is it was conducted without meaningful, reciprocal, formal tribal consultation,' said Sarah White, founder and executive director of the South Dakota Education Equity Coalition. White and others asked the board to hold off and reach out to tribal government leaders. But board members unanimously approved the revisions. South Dakota Department of Education Secretary Joe Graves told board members the revision 'was not a rushed process,' and incorporated opinions from a 34-member review committee, as well as tribal education leaders on the Indian Education Advisory Committee. Perkins told opponents before casting his vote that the changes move the state in the 'right direction.' He added that he takes direction from Gov. Larry Rhoden to press 'reset' on tribal-state communications. 'What I hear is that what we may have isn't perfect, and we clearly need to work harder on communication,' Perkins said. The standards will be available for use by the South Dakota teachers who choose to teach them in fall 2026. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - The case for local control: Rethinking the US Department of Education
Yesterday's signing ceremony of an order aimed at winding down the U.S. Department of Education raises a critical question: who should have control over education — federal officials or state and local communities? Pundits and politicians are unlikely to call it by its name, but this is a debate over federalism and the extent to which individuals believe in this founding principle of self-governance. Spurred partly by the pandemic and concerns over the direction of the nation's education system, American parents seem to grasp the idea that local or personal control over their children's schooling is better than federal control. States have followed suit, but the Department of Education has not. As the conflict rages on, it's helpful to consider what has happened at each level over the last few years. The pandemic and subsequent school closures revealed the failures of America's education system, which had been on the decline long before 2020. For the first time, parents discovered what and how their children were being taught — and the picture was troubling. What followed was a parent-led movement for more input into their child's education. School choice programs passed in more than 20 states since 2021, including Education Savings Accounts programs, tax-credit scholarships and improved open enrollment policies that allow a student to transfer to a district school beyond the one to which they are residentially assigned. These reforms empower American families with more education options, especially those from low-income backgrounds or failing school districts. Homeschooling also surged during and after the pandemic, and multiple states advanced legislation that made it easier for families to adopt this customized learning environment. Thousands of parents and education entrepreneurs launched alternative learning models such as microschools and learning pods, and states like Utah and Georgia have responded by easing burdensome regulations that would have otherwise hindered these models' proliferation. Fueled by a sense that education had strayed from its fundamental objective, several states, including Florida and Nebraska, passed curriculum transparency laws to give parents a better picture of what their children were being taught. A handful of others, including Kansas and Oklahoma, have enacted Science of Reading laws that are proven to improve reading comprehension and proficiency. While states took bold steps to empower families and improve academic outcomes, the federal government responded with draconian and discriminatory measures that often prioritized political agendas over student success. In 2021, the widespread clashes between school board members and parents escalated even further. Then-Attorney General Merrick Garland sent a memo to the FBI and Department of Justice, directing the agencies to coordinate with local law enforcement over threats to school board members. Garland issued the guidance to FBI and the Justice Department after the National School Boards Association, at the request of then-Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, sent a letter to former President Joe Biden, suggesting that threats and acts of violence at school board meetings might be 'domestic terrorism.' These high-profile disputes were brought on by a growing dissatisfaction among parents about school curricula and continued closures. Despite the rising frustration from parents, the Department of Education seemed disengaged from their concerns and continued to prioritize politics over students. Throughout his tenure as Education secretary, Cardona tended to focus an inordinate amount of attention on 'woke' politics rather than policies that would address the worsening academic outcomes. Instead of tackling declining reading and math scores — particularly among Black students, who have borne the brunt of the nation's educational decline. The department responded to the situation by offering grants to schools to teach critical race theory and other ideological frameworks. This contrast highlights a fundamental truth: The most effective education policies originate closer to home. The American founders recognized this when they enshrined federalism in the U.S. Constitution through the 10th Amendment, leaving education to the states — and for good reason. In five years, we've seen the states give children more education options while working to improve academic outcomes. The federal government, meanwhile, has focused on pushing political agendas at the expense of students. As the debate continues, it is important to recognize that real education reform happens at the state and local level — not through top-down mandates from Washington. Jane McEnaney is the Director of Education Policy Initiatives at State Policy Network. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
