Rochester Public Schools is implementing FastBridge, a literacy-screening tool, and dyslexia screenings for grades 4-12 to improve reading skills. The district aims for a 1.5% increase in grade-level proficiency on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment test for elementary and middle school students. Last year, 63% of students were at low risk in reading, but significant gaps remain, particularly among Black and Hispanic students. The district has shown some progress, with 20% of students progressing aggressively in reading proficiency.

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is partnering with Prince George's County, Md., to invest in education, social justice and youth mentorship, focusing on AI for student literacy. County Executive Aisha Braveboy announced the partnership at the Maryland Association of Counties conference. Kaepernick introduced his AI tool, Lumi, last month to help students create stories and improve literacy.

Read On Arizona, the Arizona Department of Education and the State Board of Education have launched a five-year plan to boost third-grade reading proficiency to 72% by 2030, addressing a postpandemic decline. The Arizona Literacy Plan 2030 includes goals such as training all K-5 educators in the Science of Reading, increasing literacy coaches and using high-quality materials in all schools. Only 39% of third-graders are proficient, and 24% of students are chronically absent.

The Permian Basin Adult Literacy Center will host its 2025 Peer-to-Peer Read-A-Thon Fundraiser in September, inviting individuals, teams and community groups to read and raise funds for local literacy efforts. Participants can set their reading and fundraising goals, compete in weekly challenges and vie for prizes, with top readers and fundraisers recognized at the end of the month-long event.

Logan Garza overcame homelessness and time in the juvenile justice system before finding support at the Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties, where she earned her GED. Now, as the Adult Basic Education Coordinator, she provides instruction to other adult learners while raising two daughters and working toward a psychology degree. Garza's journey, highlighted at the Literacy Texas Annual Conference, demonstrates the transformative power of literacy and education.

The Nebraska Literacy Project Plan is a statewide initiative to close the literacy gap and increase student reading proficiency. With a goal of having 75% of third-graders proficient in reading by 2030, the project centers on improved educator training and resource allocation, supported by significant public and private funding. The plan also aims to address disparities in literacy, especially in underserved communities.

Michael Gaskell shares strategies for dealing with difficult parents, emphasizing the importance of persuasion and collaboration over confrontation. Gaskell recounts a personal experience during the pandemic where he diffused a tense situation by showing compassion and agreeing to support the parent's child, ultimately leading to a positive outcome. He advises educators to listen actively, acknowledge parents' concerns and express genuine care for their children to build trust and shift the dynamic from adversarial to cooperative.

Student achievement has yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels five years after the onset of COVID-19, according to a report from Curriculum Associates. The report, based on data from more than 11 million K-8 students, shows modest gains in reading, but progress in math is slower, with students still lagging behind 2019 benchmarks by as much as 17 percentage points.