Foundations First: Leading with Intention for Early Grade Readers

Reading struggles in the early grades often signal deeper instructional gaps, but they can be addressed with the right systems in place. 

This executive digest offers school administrators actionable insights from Lexia’s 2025 Science of Reading Leadership Summits, where leaders from across the country discussed how to better support striving readers.

The digest emphasizes three essential focus areas: effective, evidence-based instruction; the strategic use of student data; and sustained collaboration among educators, families, and administrators. With these elements in place, educators can identify learning needs early, deliver focused interventions, and ensure students stay on track with key reading milestones.

Through Structured Literacy practices and real-time assessment tools, teachers can respond with precision to individual student needs. At the same time, aligned support systems and shared goals help build a strong literacy culture across classrooms and communities.

This resource outlines how school leaders can drive measurable improvements in early literacy by investing in professional learning, fostering cross-stakeholder collaboration, and using programs like Lexia® Core5® Reading to translate research into results. With thoughtful leadership and consistent support, every student can become a confident reader—starting in the earliest years of school.