District Administrators: Your Science of Reading Journey

Explore how district leaders who invest in coherent, systemwide literacy professional development, like the approaches championed by leaders in Kentucky and Massachusetts, see stronger alignment, more confident educators, and cultures where everyone speaks the same instructional language. Through insights shared during a dynamic conversation with state and district literacy experts, learn about the transformative impact of trust, shared goals, and consistent messaging, with a vivid look at what’s possible when professional learning becomes the backbone of a unified literacy system.

Sustained professional learning is driving real systemwide literacy change, as educators eagerly seek development that strengthens instruction and improves student outcomes. This video highlights how district leaders are making that possible by building aligned, science of reading-based training into the school year, providing release time, and ensuring coherence across resources. When teachers, coaches, and leaders share a common language and vision, a true culture of learning emerges, supported by Lexia® professional learning, that helps embed evidence-based practices into daily instruction.

Adolescent readers have diverse needs that aren’t always visible. Some contribute great ideas but struggle with accuracy, while others read fluently without truly understanding the text. This Education Insight explains the underlying causes of these gaps and offers a clear framework for identifying and addressing them, helping educators move beyond surface-level data to the real “why.” With practical guidance about diagnostics, aligned supports, and targeted professional learning, it equips district leaders to better serve learners across grades 6–12 and build the strong literacy skills students need to thrive.

Gain a deeper understanding of educators’ current knowledge and emerging interests in science of reading strategies. Dive into findings from a recent nationwide survey that uncovers how teachers value professional development, view the impact of reading science on student outcomes, and what kind of support they’re seeking from district leaders to enhance literacy instruction.

District leaders face growing pressures to improve literacy outcomes while navigating complex challenges. In Part 1 of this blog series, explore how a districtwide needs assessment can provide a data-driven foundation for change—helping administrators identify gaps, set priorities, and drive meaningful progress.

With a clear needs assessment in hand, district leaders can take the next step toward literacy transformation. In Part 2 of this blog series, learn how to identify gaps, align solutions with the science of reading, and build a research-based plan for sustainable change.

Executing a science of reading-based district implementation requires strategy, collaboration, and adaptability. In Part 3 of this blog series, learn how to build expert teams, establish strong feedback loops, and scale solutions for a successful literacy transformation that benefits both teachers and students.

Even with strong investments in science of reading training and materials, many district leaders find their initial momentum fades as excitement wanes, budgets tighten, and new challenges emerge. This resource explains why successful implementation depends not just on launching well but on building systems that sustain motivation, consistency, and alignment throughout time. It outlines five proven strategies used by district officials that have kept their programs thriving, ensuring professional learning remains active, materials are used with purpose, and literacy growth continues long after roll out.

Early literacy begins in pre-K, yet many early childhood educators lack training in how language develops and how young children build the foundations of reading, leaving educators with a critical missed opportunity. This resource outlines how district leaders can close this gap by investing in high-quality, science of reading-aligned professional learning that strengthens educators’ understanding of oral language, vocabulary, and play-based instruction, especially for multilingual and underserved learners.

The lasting implementation of the science of reading must start with administrators, not teachers, because leaders are the individuals who build the aligned systems, culture, and support structures needed for sustainable change. When administrators develop their own understanding of the science of reading, they can model learning, set coherent expectations, and ensure that curriculum, schedules, assessments, and professional development all reinforce evidence-based instruction. Examples like those seen in Enid Public Schools demonstrate how leadership-first training, such as Lexia® LETRS® for Administrators, fosters consistency across classrooms and drives measurable improvements in student outcomes. Even administrators already underway can strengthen their efforts by bringing leaders into the process, ensuring long-term literacy success begins with informed, unified leadership.

The latest NAEP results validate a truth literacy leaders have long championed: The science of reading delivers measurable impact—when implemented with consistency, investment, and time. Discover how pioneering state leaders are driving meaningful improvements in student literacy, and why a sustained, strategic approach is key to lasting change where it counts most.

District leaders at Friendship Public Charter School (FPCS) embarked on their science of reading journey by crafting a comprehensive literacy plan. Their personalized road map ensured a thorough and successful implementation. Tune into this webinar to glean essential tips for your own adoption.

Transformation, inspired by vision, is achieved through planning and actionable steps. To plot the path forward for educational transformation, a road map is essential. Explore several steps included in this comprehensive guide to help implement a plan for effective change in your district.

This video offers district administrators six practical tips for leading an effective, systemwide implementation of the science of reading. Drawing on the expertise of leaders experienced in large‑district change, it outlines how clear communication builds alignment, why starting small supports intentional growth, and how eliminating outdated practices removes barriers to progress. The insights also emphasize the importance of coaching and ensuring school and district leaders receive the same training as instructional staff. Grounded in real-world examples and research-based implementation models, the video serves as a helpful starting point for district leaders working to strengthen coherence, overcome resistance, and embed Structured Literacy into daily instruction.

Turn your literacy investments into lasting impact with the Implementation Blueprint. This comprehensive guide—complete with an actionable checklist—helps district leaders design strategic, sustainable implementation plans that foster teacher success, accelerate product adoption, and improve student literacy outcomes.

Discover how to confidently select and implement science of reading-aligned programs that meet state requirements and drive meaningful student outcomes. This actionable guide empowers district leaders to assess instructional materials, professional development, and intervention strategies—ensuring every learner receives high-quality, evidence-based literacy support.

Elevate your district’s literacy performance with a proven program designed for education leaders. Lexia® LETRS® for Administrators combines deep knowledge of the science of reading with actionable leadership strategies that drive lasting, systemwide impact. Empower your team with a foundation built on research-based practices that support both administrators and teachers in building stronger readers.

District-level administrators know literacy initiatives are vital. However, a key component to successful implementation is building an effective literacy team (and it’s often a component that gets overlooked). During this webinar, we explore preparing educators to implement a sustainable literacy plan.

Discover how to leverage student literacy data for impactful intervention programs during this insightful webinar. Featuring longtime Lexia user and advocate Vanessa Diaz-Valencia, you’ll gain strategies for scalability, capacity building, and long-term literacy success in your district.

This piece highlights how aligning instruction with the science of reading can help district leaders ensure equitable literacy outcomes for all students—especially those with disabilities who often are left behind. By implementing Structured Literacy, educators can translate decades of research into clear, consistent instruction that supports early learners, multilingual students, and adolescents alike. Adaptive programs such as Lexia® Core5® Reading, Lexia English Language Development™, and Lexia® PowerUp Literacy® personalize learning, while professional development through LETRS and Lexia Aspire® Professional Learning equips teachers to apply evidence-based practices with confidence.

Explore how leaders at Saginaw ISD partnered with more than 40 districts to implement the science of reading at scale—empowering educators through Lexia® LETRS® Professional Learning and driving systemic literacy change across the county.

Discover how Lafayette Parish Schools empowered upper-elementary and middle school educators with Lexia Aspire® Professional Learning, bridging gaps in literacy instruction and driving districtwide transformation.

Sal Flores, director-dyslexia/504/RTI services for McAllen Independent School District in Texas, relies on Lexia® Core5® Reading for its research-proven impact on student achievement and its real-time data for educator decision-making.

When Nancy Sindle discovered Lexia® PowerUp Literacy®, she knew it was the program that would make a difference. With a resource hub and real-time data for teachers, and engaging, age-appropriate content for students, see how PowerUp made a difference at Shirley Heim Middle School.

Learn how South Carolina educators achieved dramatic literacy gains within two years after adopting LETRS professional development, with those at some campuses reducing their lowest‑performing readers by more than one-third. Students in early grades saw especially strong results, as kindergarten classes once filled with at-risk students quickly shifted to having only a few students needing support. The turnaround was driven by deep teacher training that strengthened diagnostic skills, aligned instruction with research, and fostered collaborative, well‑supported teaching teams. The outcomes show that when educators truly understand how reading develops, and receive ongoing support, breakthrough and systemwide improvement is possible.

Carrie Lisma of Fairfax County Public Schools shares how Lexia® bridges the gap between professional learning and classroom practice. With real-time teacher support and student-centered tools, Lexia empowers educators and accelerates literacy growth—driving districtwide transformation.

Learn how a large Washington district transformed literacy instruction for more than 20,000 students in just two years using Lexia® LETRS®, Lexia® Core5® Reading, and Lexia® PowerUp Literacy®. Discover the strategies behind this districtwide shift to evidence-based practices and the promising results educators are already seeing.

Learn how leaders at a New Mexico district are using Lexia® LETRS® Professional Learning to implement Structured Literacy training for teachers and administrators. By prioritizing early intervention and aligning practices, educators are transforming reading instruction and improving outcomes for all students.

Educators at Uncommon Schools NYC turned to Lexia English Language Development™ to help their English Language Learners. Learn why both teachers and students love the program, and how Lexia English is helping students feel confident participating in all of their classes.

The science of reading is making a difference for one Texas district. Learn how McAllen Independent School District educators implemented Lexia Core5 Reading and Lexia LETRS to bring incredible literacy growth for students with dyslexia.