Navigating The Shift to Science of Reading

What happens when a district empowers its teachers to lead change? In this episode, three educators from Federal Way Public Schools in Washington share how a grassroots effort turned into a systemwide literacy transformation across one of the state’s most diverse districts.

• A “middle-out” professional development approach that started with teachers and coaches instead of administrators
• Teacher-led transformation sparked by a kindergarten and first grade teacher exploring the science of reading
• LETRS training implementation with stipends, accountability emails, and protected learning time
• A comprehensive five-year literacy plan addressing curriculum, assessment, schedules, and support structures
• Systems change, not just PD, ensuring a holistic approach to districtwide literacy improvement
• Voluntary teacher engagement, with hundreds of teachers requesting LETRS by Year 4
• Support structures that work, based on the idea that accountability + collaboration = more impactful training

Listen now to learn how this team is redefining literacy success—and how your district can, too.

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