Webster Parish School District
Institution
Webster Parish School District
Scope of Work
The Legislature of Louisiana, in its 1997 session, passed House Bill 2444 (Act 45) which states:
"Effective with the 1997-98 school year, each governing authority of a public elementary school shall implement a reading program at each elementary school that is designed and intended to teach each student to read at grade level by not later than the end of first grade."
It further states that the reading program shall include but need not be limited to a phonics component.
Following this directive, Webster Parish School Board in Minden, Louisiana implemented a four-pronged program during the 1997-1998 school year for all K-3 students in the twelve elementary schools in the district.
Tool
Gates-MacGinitie Test
Evaluation
Data was collected in October 1997 and May 1998. Webster Parish had the highest passing rate in Northwest Louisiana. In fact, seventy-three percent of students were reading at or above grade level as measured by the Gates-MacGintie Reading Inventory.
It is important to know that in the first grade, students who scored at or lower than 1.5 were considered below reading grade level. 1.6 through 1.8 was considered at grade level, and 1.9 and above was considered above grade level. The same ratio was used in 2nd and 3rd grade.
The reports indicate that greatest gains were shown in first grade and kindergarten, indicating the importance of a good start. Eighty percent of the kindergarten students scored 70% or above in reading, as measured by the Webster Parish Kindergarten Exit Test.
Gains in the 1998-1999 school year should be significantly higher since all teachers will be using the same approach, they will begin at the first of the school year, and teachers will be more familiar with the technique.
Evaluator's Observations
Webster schools Superintendent Jerry Lott attributes his district's relative success to a concentration of funds and teacher training on a phonics program that involves computer programs, books and worksheets. Lott said emphasis on basic skill such as phonics are a key to improving reading.
