The ability to read at grade level by third grade is a crucial predictor of future academic success. Students who reach this milestone are more likely to succeed in later grades than those who don’t, increasing their chances of earning living wages as adults. Recent State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) data for Dallas County and the state reveal declines in this grade and subject, suggesting our youngest students are still grappling with the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dallas County districts recognize the urgency of support and intervention in the grades prior to 3rd grade and are proactively addressing student needs by collaborating with other school systems in the region to learn best practices and develop solutions to shared challenges. Commit is honored to host several strategic convenings with district and campus leaders and instructional coaches as we work together to ensure all our students are provided the evidence-based support needed to meet grade-level standards.
“If we want to address the root causes of our students’ academic struggles, we have to take a holistic approach that involves senior leaders, classroom educators and instructional materials,” says Commit Managing Director Amber Shields. “That’s why I’m thrilled to see the leadership of our local Dallas County school districts aligned on the importance of these issues.”
The Dallas County K-3 Literacy Director Community of Practice fosters collaboration to create a reflective and solution-oriented learning environment in support of strong academic foundations in literacy. Specifically, this community of practice aims to improve third-grade outcomes by focusing on foundational work in K-2, ensuring student success by third grade. In the 2024-2025 school year, the group will further explore literacy strategic plans, novice teacher support, high-quality instructional material, professional learning, leadership and data utilization.
In 2023, Commit launched the Literacy Coaching Fellowship for K-5 instructional coaches to improve early literacy outcomes on their campuses through best practices grounded in the Science of Teaching Reading. Impacting nearly 50,000 elementary students, the cohort of instructional coaches builds their knowledge and capacity to draw on professional learning communities and observation and feedback cycles to support teachers in foundational grades.
Over the last two-years Commit has supported several districts in conducting instructional material reviews. This year, Commit in collaboration with Instruction Partners, will provide Curriculum Implementation Reviews. These reviews seek to enhance curricular effectiveness to align daily instruction with grade-level standards and prepare students for success in subsequent grades. By collaborating with Instruction Partners to collect both quantitative and qualitative data, they will identify successful aspects of curriculum implementation and gather feedback from leaders on challenges and support needs.
These initiatives were strategically developed to invest in the critical early years of Dallas County students' education, supporting educators in their vital work to significantly increase the number of third-grade students reading on grade level. Through their participation, education leaders in Dallas County are demonstrating their commitment to achieving that goal. By doing so, we can put more young people in our region on the path to economic mobility.
Interested in working with Early Matters Dallas in any of the programs listed above? Please reach out to Amber Shields at Amber.Shields@commitpartnership.org.
