Reading Horizons Information

Little Books

No children were ever exposed to the books, and only a small number of teachers were.
The books are not central to the program, they have all been collected, and teachers will begin
implementing the program without their use.
When concerns were raised, they were immediately addressed.
Due to staffing shifts and the desire to get a program in place for the new school year, the booksa very
small, optional part of the program and intended only as supplemental materialswere not
comprehensively vetted. The instructional curriculum, however, was vetted. We learned from this
experience and will review every piece of material going forward.
Cultural awareness and diversity recognition are ongoing processes, and we are certain that we will find
additional things to reevaluate across all grades and all disciplines in the future.
We are working with Reading Horizons to revise the books, and teachers will be central in that
conversation. These revisions wont just be for Minneapolis, but for districts across the country.

Additional Info

MPS will benefit greatly from having foundational reading skills instruction, because data shows many
MPS students are in need of foundational reading skills.
A team of folks, including 60 teachers, selected Reading Horizons based on many factors, including its
track record of success.
This program will help our kids become stronger readers, and kids who read grow up to succeed.
It is a flexible program, which allows teachers to use the knowledge and experience they have gained
through years of educating our kids.
It meets 100% of the Minnesota Department of Educations English and Language Arts foundational
skills standards.
It is a blended program and includes technology to keep our students interested in learning. The
technology component will be introduced during the second half of the school year.
It uses systematic, specific instruction methods that provide foundational skills critical to students
learning.
It only takes 20-30 minutes each day and fits in during teachers literacy block.
It provides site-based coaching and training to answer questions and provide feedback.
It works. Research shows this program has been successful in improving student outcomes across the
country, including outcomes in diverse districts like ours.