By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green City Schools’ new reading program has scored results in state assessments.
The newest third grade English Language Arts scores for the district outpaced the state average – with Bowling Green’s passage rate at 73% compared to the state’ passage rate of 61%.
The scores surpassed the district’s previous passage rate of 62% in 2021-2022, and 57% in 2020-2021.
“I was just bursting with absolute pride,” when the results were received Thursday morning, said Angie Schaal, executive director of teaching and learning for the district.
Schaal credited the district’s new elementary reading program, which provides a more structured literacy approach – and the teamwork of teachers, administrators and students.
“That is really due to all the work we are doing with the Science of Reading,” she said of the new program. “What our teachers are doing is working.”
The reading program starts early, hitting pre-kindergarten classes through third grades.
“The changes we are making instructionally are making a difference,” Schaal said, noting the willingness of the teachers and administration to develop the Science of Reading program. “It’s amazing what they’ve been able to do. It’s a team effort.”
The success of the reading program was touted earlier this year when Gov. Mike DeWine visited Conneaut Elementary School to hear about the project.
The governor’s visit was intended to showcase districts like Bowling Green that have spent time, effort, and funding to ensure that teachers have what they need to best meet the needs of all readers in the district.
DeWine praised the dramatic upswing in reading statistics by students at Bowling Green City School’s elementaries. And he got a lesson on how the new teaching techniques have turned around the district’s reading program.
“The word got out that we are doing a lot of great things for kids,” Schaal said during the governor’s visit.
The key has been the district’s adoption of the “Science of Reading” program, which meant a change in curriculum, intense reading intervention, and a shift in instruction.
“We want to make sure we’re instructing our students to be the best readers they can be,” Schaal said.
The change has created measurable success for students, with far fewer having great difficulty with literacy since the program started in 2020.
“That number is shrinking,” Schaal said of struggling readers. “We have done a lot of work in the last four years.”
The “Science of Reading” program started small, being tested out in a couple grade levels. But when seeing reading skills increase, school officials decided to put the program into action throughout the district.
“Our teachers have done a great job,” Superintendent Francis Scruci said to DeWine during the visit.
The shift in reading instruction actually began at the insistence of teachers, Schaal said.
“They said, ‘We aren’t seeing the progress in my kids that we should,’” Schaal recalled. “The spark started because teachers wanted to make a difference.”
