SPPS Reads: Championing Literacy for All Students
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Saint Paul Public Schools is excited to launch a new initiative called SPPS Reads. This districtwide initiative aims to improve literacy instruction by aligning our practices with the Science of Reading research at all elementary schools, provide resources for families to help students improve reading skills at home, and build excitement around reading through community events.
We hope you will join us in championing literacy for all students. Implementing scientifically-based reading instruction is a crucial step in dismantling frameworks that perpetuate bias and providing equitable access to literacy. The ability to read and comprehend language allows students to excel in all subjects and lays the foundation to achieve success in school and in life.
SPPS Reads Initiatives
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Create a District Literacy Leadership Team
Superintendent Gothard and leaders from various departments and schools have formed a District Leadership Literacy Team (DLLT). These leaders will collaborate to accomplish the following:
- Identify areas of improvement within our literacy practices for core instruction, intervention, and targeted support for English Learners and students with disabilities
- Find innovative solutions to address achievement gaps
- Evaluate student data to create district and student focused literacy goals
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Improve District Literacy Practices
The Office of Teaching & Learning's literacy department and What I Need Now (WINN) teams have committed to the following:
- Meet the requirements of the Minnesota Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act that was passed in May 2023
- Provide all educators who teach reading with professional learning on the science of reading and evidence-based reading instruction
- Continue to invest in our WINN strategy, which provides additional reading instructors to all elementary and middle schools
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Provide Family Resources & Events
Additional goals of SPPS Reads include informing families about the practices SPPS is using to teach literacy, creating resources for guardians to help students improve reading skills at home, and hosting fun and thought-provoking events for staff, students and families to get excited about reading.
SPPS Reads in the News
- Superintendent Gothard Talks About SPPS Reads With Adam and Jordana (WCCO Radio)
- St. Paul Public Schools Starts New Chapter of Literacy Plan (KARE 11)
- SPPS Teachers Gifted School Supplies To Help Improve Literacy (KSTP)
- How Schools Can Invest in Improving Student Literacy (Education Week Webinar)
- For Most, the State Fair Means Back-to-School Time (WCCO)
SPPS Reads Events
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Upcoming Events
- February: Students and families will be invited to participate in I Love To Read Month reading-related activities and events.
Past Events
- November-December: Families and community members were invited to attend SPPS Reads movie nights showing the award-winning documentary, “The Right to Read”. Executive produced by host of PBS’ "Reading Rainbow" LaVar Burton, the film follows the story of the literacy crisis in America as the greatest civil rights issue of our time, and what we can do about it. Events were held on November 29 at Johnson Senior High School, December 7 at Humboldt High School, and December 12 at Central High School.
- December 9: SPPS Reads handed out free books at the SPPS School Choice Fair at the Saint Paul RiverCentre
- December 8: Two elementary schools (Maxfield and Benjamin E. Mays) partnered with Saint Paul Promise Neighborhood and unveiled their new book vending machines that offer a fun way to get students reading.
- November 20: SPPS partnered with Amazon to celebrate the work of our WINN teachers and give them new literacy resources to bring back to their classrooms.
- September 7: U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona visited the district and held discussions around literacy with several families. These conversations have helped inform what SPPS Reads could look like and what our families need to help their students with reading.
