Enhancing Classroom Instruction: Arkansas Literacy Coaching Initiative
Enhancing Classroom Instruction: Arkansas Literacy Coaching Initiative
Case Study Highlights
The big picture: The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) is strengthening student literacy by hiring and training experienced specialists who provide sustained, consistent coaching to early-grade educators to improve classroom instruction.
Zoom in: Under LEARNS, elementary schools receiving a D or F letter grade from the Arkansas Department of Education must provide literacy coaching to all K-3 teachers.
Context: Currently, only 35% of Arkansas students read at grade level. Reinforcing early literacy instruction and ensuring students have access to high-quality, Science of Reading-aligned instructional materials is essential to reading proficiency.
Why it matters: Boosting early reading skills is one of the strongest investments in students’ long-term academic success.
The impact: Teachers receive personalized, actionable next steps based on classroom observations, joint debriefs, and student data analyses, keeping both educators and mentors in alignment.
What’s next: ADE will continue to build strong partnerships among educators, coaches, and school administrators, ensuring continued improvement in practices that lead to consistent student gains.