Building Consistency, Achieving Results

A Washington District’s Literacy Breakthrough

Faced with inconsistent literacy instruction across classrooms, educators at a large suburban Washington district serving 21,000 students set out to create a unified, research-based approach. Leaders implemented Lexia® Core5® Reading to provide a science of reading foundation, align instructional practice, and deliver targeted support to every K–5 learner.

Core5 offered more than adaptive student practice, it gave educators real-time data, teacher-directed lessons, and clear pathways for intervention. Paired with Lexia® LETRS® Professional Learning, teachers gained the knowledge and confidence to apply Structured Literacy principles in every classroom. Educators also aligned Core5 with a new ELA curriculum to create coherence across resources and grade levels.

The impact during the 2023–2024 school year was significant. Among 2,503 K–5 students meeting Core5 usage targets:

• 92% advanced at least one grade level

• 76% of those students finished the year in or above grade-level material

• The percentage of students performing above grade level rose from 28% to 43% by year-end

District leaders credit this progress to both the tools and the training. “Every single teacher wants to help their students read. Having the tools, like Lexia®, to help them succeed is the motivating factor,” said Dr. Erika Rudnicki, executive director of scholar learning, academic programs, and staff development.