Berkeley Unified School District’s literacy progress to be monitored for another year

Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) has made significant strides in improving its literacy program over the past few years. After settling a class-action lawsuit in 2021, which alleged insufficient support for students with learning disorders, the district has revamped how it teaches reading. To ensure that BUSD is meeting the requirements set out in the settlement, a court-appointed literacy monitor has recommended an additional year of oversight.

The lawsuit, originally filed in 2017, brought to light the district’s shortcomings in identifying and supporting students with learning disorders like dyslexia. Although BUSD denied the claims, it agreed to settlements to avoid prolonged legal disputes and take steps to enhance its literacy program. As part of the settlement, BUSD was mandated to enhance intervention strategies for struggling readers, implement universal screening tests to identify students with learning disorders, and undergo monitoring by an impartial court-appointed monitor.

In response to these requirements, BUSD launched the Literacy Improvement Program (LIP) in 2022. Aimed at improving early literacy and providing better interventions for students at risk of reading disabilities, the program was a crucial step towards fulfilling the settlement terms. George Ellis, director of the California Reading and Literature Project at UC Berkeley, was assigned as the independent monitor. He has been closely monitoring BUSD’s progress through numerous reports and assessments since the program’s inception.

Despite initial concerns about the success of the literacy improvements, Ellis noted significant progress in BUSD’s efforts during his final report. The district has made substantial changes, replacing outdated curricula with evidence-based programs, establishing a district-wide curriculum and instruction department, and implementing data-monitoring routines to track student progress. BUSD has shown improvement in instructional consistency and met the majority of the goals outlined in the settlement agreement.

However, Ellis is recommending an additional year of oversight to ensure full implementation of a new English curriculum for grades K-5. BUSD Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel emphasized the district’s commitment to providing quality instruction to all students, calling the progress a testament to their dedication.

Looking forward, Assistant Superintendent Jill Hoogendyk expressed optimism about the upcoming school year and the implementation of the new reading curriculum. With clear expectations set for classroom instruction and early positive signs in the first days of the school year, BUSD is confident in its preparation for the ongoing improvement of its literacy program.