MASHPEE — In the first year of a new reading program, Kenneth C. Coombs School students outpaced an ambitious literacy goal.
When Mashpee Public Schools launched UFLI Foundations at KC Coombs School last fall, the school set a clear benchmark: increase the percentage of students placing at grade level within the program’s phonics sequence by 15 percentage points by June 2026.
Students in Grades 1 and 2 exceeded it, finishing the year at 16 percentage points of combined growth.
For some second graders, the progress was especially striking. Many students began the year placing at a kindergarten level within the phonics sequence and moved significantly upward by June. District administrators credit that progress to the program’s structure and the consistency of daily instruction.
UFLI Foundations, which was implemented across kindergarten through second grade, uses explicit and systematic instruction in phonemic awareness (hearing and playing with sounds in words), phonics (connecting those sounds to letters to sound out words) and word recognition. Progress is measured using the program’s placement assessment, which identifies where students fall within the phonics scope and sequence — not overall reading proficiency.
“Learning to read is one of the most important milestones in a child’s educational journey, and strong foundational literacy skills open the door to success across every subject area,” said Superintendent Dr. Michele Conners. “I am incredibly proud of the work of our students, teachers and staff at KC Coombs School. Their commitment to implementing high-quality instruction and maintaining a relentless focus on student growth helped our students exceed an ambitious goal during a year of significant transition.”
The results are notable in part because of the year in which they happened. KC Coombs welcomed a new principal, new front office staff and an entirely new curriculum in the same school year — a level of transition that could easily have disrupted classroom momentum.
It didn’t.
Principal Jane Redman pointed to the consistency of her staff as one of the main driving factors.
“A new curriculum only works if everyone believes in it and executes it together,” Principal Redman said. “Our teachers, interventionists and support staff did that. So did families. This was a team effort from the first day of school to the last.”
Dr. Conners said the District plans to build on the program’s first-year results.
“These results show that our students are gaining confidence, building critical reading skills and developing the tools they need to succeed as lifelong learners,” said Dr. Conners. “We look forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead.”
###
Discover more from John Guilfoil Public Relations
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.