Science of Reading professional development available for educators

In August 2023, the Department of Education (DOE) launched a literacy initiative that puts phonics education at the forefront of reading and writing instruction. To date, that effort has provided training to over 1,000 educators in the state, and it marks the beginning of a movement to improve reading proficiency among South Dakota students.

The training is aimed at teachers and leaders in K-12 schools. It reflects the recommendations of researchers who compiled their findings about how children best learn to read into an approach called the Science of Reading. These findings are extensive, but they can be parsed into five main concepts that are proven to be vital to reading education: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

To ensure that teachers in South Dakota have the training to teach reading according to the Science of Reading, the DOE began offering AIM Pathways courses for educators. These intensive, online trainings are taken over the course or a portion of the school year. The courses are designed to help educators acquire tools to put the Science of Reading to work in their classrooms and schools.

One school district that took advantage of a pilot program that incorporated the Science of Reading precepts into teacher training is the Sisseton School District. The superintendent of the school district, Dr. Tammy Meyer, wrote about the effect the training had on students there.

“While this is intensive training, we have seen a direct and positive influence on our elementary students’ academic performance in internal and statewide assessments,” Meyer said. “It’s been amazing watching our students making the progress they are, especially as we intentionally focus on foundational skills. This year, 83 percent of our kindergarten students met early literacy and reading grade-level performance benchmarks by the end of the first semester.” Meyer attributed the success to the literacy training her teachers had received, and their work with the students based on that training.

Other school districts that have implemented Science of Reading training for staff are also seeing positive results.

Understanding the importance of a strong foundation in literacy, the South Dakota Legislature voted in 2024 to provide funding to ensure that all educators in the state can take advantage of Science of Reading training. The DOE is working with its higher education partners to develop a literacy program that will then be available to any teacher or administrator who hasn’t gone through the AIM Pathways training. In addition, pre-service teachers will also be able to receive training as part of their program of study.

Educators who sign up for AIM Pathways will be able to choose from five paths, each curated to meet the needs of teachers in their specific circumstance. K-5 teachers have two options: Pathways to Proficient Reading and Pathways to Proficient Writing. Pre-K teachers, K-3 non-core teachers, and paraprofessionals are advised to take the Early Literacy Bundle, while 4-12 non-core teachers and paraprofessionals, and middle and high school teachers should take the Steps to Literacy II Bundle. Administrators are encouraged to take part in training with the Pathways to Literacy Leadership course.

To learn more about the AIM Pathways training and to register, visit the DOE’s AIM Pathways webpage. Courses beginning in the summer and fall of 2024 are open for registration.

Educators can also take advantage of in-person trainings in Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, and Brookings this summer. These courses, which take place over two, three, or five days, provide an overview of the five foundational literacy skills and model research-based practical lessons for teachers to use in the classroom. More information about these courses can be found in the “Professional Development” section of this newsletter.