Journalist Ann Doss Helms visited Oakdale Elementary in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to observe Takela Martin, a teacher assistant of 19 years, who this year has a new assignment: “Every day she calls in 18 kindergarteners, one at a time, to do reading lessons.”
The story examines how Once is using high-dosage tutoring — not to help students make up ground lost during pandemic disruptions, but as a foundation in kindergarten or first grade to help ensure students never fall behind.
The story continues: “Powell says she’s also seeing ‘a huge gain’ compared with the middle of last year. She said this year 72% of first-graders started the year at grade level; she predicts that when current kindergarteners move up that will top 85%.
But it’s one thing to be enthusiastic about a program as it’s playing out … and another, more difficult thing, to prove it’s making a difference. That’s where the Stanford research comes in.”
In the months ahead, Stanford will analyze data on the impact of the Once Early-Reading Program on student literacy. We can’t wait to share the updates!