The Kentucky Reading Research Center recently presented a first-year progress report to the Kentucky Board of Education, highlighting significant milestones in its mission to improve literacy outcomes across the Commonwealth. Founding Director Dr. Amy Lingo and Executive Director Dr. Terry Scott detailed the Center’s accomplishments, including the launch of a statewide research clearinghouse and an in-depth evaluation of schools participating in the Read to Achieve (RTA) grant program.

Early in the year, KYRRC finalized a comprehensive data-sharing agreement with the state, providing access to critical school data. This paved the way for the Center’s evaluation of the RTA program, developed in collaboration with the Kentucky Department of Education. In addition to statewide surveys, the team conducted school interviews and classroom observations in a stratified sample of schools to examine literacy instruction and capacity.

Initial data collection is complete, with analysis now underway. In the coming year, the Center plans to expand this work to approximately 100 schools across Kentucky, aiming to identify the practices most strongly associated with improved literacy outcomes.

Another key initiative is the creation of a research-based clearinghouse featuring systematic reviews of the past decade’s literature on foundational, adolescent, adult, and family literacy. Foundational literacy reviews are nearing completion and will soon be available on KYRRC’s website, offering evidence-based guidance for educators, administrators, and families.

Watch their full remarks at the 2:48 mark on KDE’s YouTube channel.