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SPPS asks families, community to help kids reach literacy goals
Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard says SPPS Reads is a call to action for families and community partners.
ST PAUL, Minn. — Children who were getting their first taste of school when the world shut down because of COVID are now in third and fourth grade, and many are still struggling to read.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics’ 2022 report card, only about one third of the nation’s fourth graders are proficient in reading — a dip from 2019. The average score for Minnesota students in 2022 was on par with the national averages, and our state too saw a dip in 2019.
To try to get students back on track, St. Paul Public Schools has opened the next chapter of its literacy improvement plan.
“We are really happy that we are able to announce SPPS Reads,” Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard said.
But first, let’s flip back to 2018, when the district aimed launched SPPS Achieves as part of its strategic plan.
“In that plan, we look to decrease disparities between students based on their racial groups, whether or not they’re English language or receive special education services,” Gothard said. “We’ve tried many different strategies but have found that our results haven’t always been there, and we continue to have some of the historical disparities in reading achievement that have been persistent here for a long time.”
Gothard says, in spring 2021, reading levels began to improve after the district received $209 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds. This allowed dozens of teachers to train in scientifically based reading strategies.
“Many children are taught to read by word memorization and making inferences to pictures, for example,” Gothard said. “[Whereas] the science of reading is very clear about making sure that students can pronounce words. They have phonemic awareness. That they can decode complex words and make meaning of it, make comprehension of the words they’re sounding out.”
Each certified teacher put in 180 hours of training through Lexia LETRS, or Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, which provides teachers with science of reading teaching methods. The teachers have been implementing these methods through a program called WINN, or What I Need Now.
“Many times, it’s in a small group in a classroom,” Gothard said. “It can be outside of the classroom, but it’s very short. It’s 45 minutes a day, and it’s every day that a small group of students receives this instruction from one of our teachers who’s been trained.”
The district reports more than 4,000 kids in the program are learning to read more quickly than their peers. They’re assessed at the beginning of the school year and again in winter and spring.
“The body language of students in those classrooms is something I notice right away,” Gothard said. “Students are sharing. Students are not afraid to show up as the readers they are, whereas in maybe a large class or maybe without the skills that they’re learning, students can feel a real sense of shame and sense of embarrassment at times, and nobody wants that for our students. So it’s been able to create a safe environment for students to step up and push themselves and be guided by our amazing teachers.”
Now with SPPS Reads, the district aims to involve families and community partners in improving literacy rates.
“We can’t put reading and literacy only on the backs of students and their teachers,” Gothard explained. “This really does require a call to action to our entire community.”
As part of the launch, Amazon last week donated $10,000 in reading instruction materials to 90 WINN teachers.
And Wednesday, the district plans to host the first of three community movie nights to explain the science of reading and show Reading Rainbow legend Levar Burton’s award-winning documentary, The Right to Read:
- Wednesday, November 29 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Johnson Senior High School
- Thursday, December 7 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Humboldt High School
- Tuesday, December 12 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Central High School
The Saint Paul Public Library system is one of the school district’s partners, and its director provided the following statement Tuesday:
“Reading is incredibly important for everyone, especially for our youngest learners. At the library, we foster a love of reading and learning through books that represent the identities and experiences of families in our community. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Saint Paul Public Schools in helping our students to read and learn.”
-Maureen Hartman, Saint Paul Public Library
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The young victim was driving a Ford Taurus when it went off the road and struck a tree.
LITTLE SAUK, Minn. — A 16-year-old boy died in a crash Sunday night in Little Sauk, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
The Browerville teen was driving a Ford Taurus northbound on Highway 71 around 10 p.m. when the car went off the road and struck a tree near 150th Street, according to the Minnesota State Patrol website.
Troopers say roads were snowy and icy at that time.
The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating and will release the victim’s identity and any case updates when they become available.
The wellness program welcomed people to tour the space on World AIDS day.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Aliveness Project opened up a Thrive clinic and pharmacy on Sunday, which is World AIDS Day.
“The Aliveness Project is about helping people living with and at risk for HIV, live long and healthy lives,” said Aliveness Project Executive Director Matt Toburen.
Toburen said construction started eight months ago but the project has been in the works for two years.
“We’re really excited to have an inclusive space and an inclusive clinic pharmacy,” Toburen said. “Anyone from the community can feel welcomed … they’re not going to be stigmatized or turned away for who they are and who they love.”
Toburen said having an onsite pharmacy is important because some patients won’t pick up their prescribed medication after their appointment.
He said this type of clinic and pharmacy is needed in Minnesota.
“We’re failing the community, and people are falling through the cracks, people who are at risk of HIV are falling through the cracks, and so we’ve created the Thrive Clinic Pharmacy in order to end HIV in Minnesota,” he said. “In our neighboring states of Wisconsin, and Illinois, and Iowa, they’re seeing decreased HIV infections.”
According to the Minnesota Department of Health an HIV outbreak was declared in Hennepin and Ramsey counties in 2020, and in the Duluth area in 2021.
MDH reported 324 people were diagnosed with HIV last year, and 207 people have been diagnosed in Minnesota this year.
“We have to do something bold because it’s unacceptable,” Toburen said.
He said there are a number of factors that contributed to the outbreak like healthcare disparities, lack of protection, and lack of sexual healthcare. He also said the outbreaks have been tied to encampments and intravenous drug use.
Toburen said the center can be a one-stop shop for people to seek medical care, food, and other resources.
He said the pharmacy will also offer PrEP and PEP.
“PrEP is a medication that when taken regularly can prevent someone from contracting HIV. PEP is something that is post-exposure prophylactic, often used in the medical setting… kind of like the morning after pill, that when there is an exposure, when taken withing 72 hours can prevent contracting HIV,” he said.
Toburen said rapid access to these medications is really important for their effectiveness. Paying for these medications can be another barrier this pharmacy will work to address.
He’s also excited to see how the clinicians and pharmacists will work together as a team to help their patients.
“This can be really groundbreaking when it comes to work on gender medicine and hormone treatments and being able to modify and… adjust medications and treatments and working with the pharmacist whose working in collaboration with that provider,” he said.
Toburen said the clinic is open. Prospective patients can schedule an appointment online or stop by the Aliveness Project.
He said the pharmacy will open in early 2025. The pharmacy will also be available to people who need other medications.
The wellness program welcomed people to tour the space on World AIDS day.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Aliveness Project opened up a Thrive clinic and pharmacy on Sunday, which is World AIDS Day.
“The Aliveness Project is about helping people living with and at risk for HIV, live long and healthy lives,” said Aliveness Project Executive Director Matt Toburen.
Toburen said construction started eight months ago but the project has been in the works for two years.
“We’re really excited to have an inclusive space and an inclusive clinic pharmacy,” Toburen said. “Anyone from the community can feel welcomed … they’re not going to be stigmatized or turned away for who they are and who they love.”
Toburen said having an onsite pharmacy is important because some patients won’t pick up their prescribed medication after their appointment.
He said this type of clinic and pharmacy is needed in Minnesota.
“We’re failing the community, and people are falling through the cracks, people who are at risk of HIV are falling through the cracks, and so we’ve created the Thrive Clinic Pharmacy in order to end HIV in Minnesota,” he said. “In our neighboring states of Wisconsin, and Illinois, and Iowa, they’re seeing decreased HIV infections.”
According to the Minnesota Department of Health an HIV outbreak was declared in Hennepin and Ramsey counties in 2020, and in the Duluth area in 2021.
MDH reported 324 people were diagnosed with HIV last year, and 207 people have been diagnosed in Minnesota this year.
“We have to do something bold because it’s unacceptable,” Toburen said.
He said there are a number of factors that contributed to the outbreak like healthcare disparities, lack of protection, and lack of sexual healthcare. He also said the outbreaks have been tied to encampments and intravenous drug use.
Toburen said the center can be a one-stop shop for people to seek medical care, food, and other resources.
He said the pharmacy will also offer PrEP and PEP.
“PrEP is a medication that when taken regularly can prevent someone from contracting HIV. PEP is something that is post-exposure prophylactic, often used in the medical setting… kind of like the morning after pill, that when there is an exposure, when taken withing 72 hours can prevent contracting HIV,” he said.
Toburen said rapid access to these medications is really important for their effectiveness. Paying for these medications can be another barrier this pharmacy will work to address.
He’s also excited to see how the clinicians and pharmacists will work together as a team to help their patients.
“This can be really groundbreaking when it comes to work on gender medicine and hormone treatments and being able to modify and… adjust medications and treatments and working with the pharmacist whose working in collaboration with that provider,” he said.
Toburen said the clinic is open. Prospective patients can schedule an appointment online or stop by the Aliveness Project.
He said the pharmacy will open in early 2025. The pharmacy will also be available to people who need other medications.
