VISION
Before 2030, Polk County
will have a world-class,
fully integrated education
system that supports
the needs of a vibrant,
progressive community.
LEFT LITERACY IN THE EARLY GRADES
The Literacy Team Nationally, one in six kids who are not reading
holding a community proficiently in third grade fail to graduate from
meeting for literacy High School on time, four times the rate for
resource providers to children with proficient third-grade reading
discuss the content and skills. (Hernandez, 2011)
Directory.
Grade students last year failed to read at grade
level – 5 % lower than the state average.
Torsha Baker-Cunningham -
Polk County Public Schools
Emilean Clemons - Polk
County Public Schools The Literacy Directory will promote a more
Jeanette Crowley - Polk
County Public Schools about resources available for students and
literate community by providing information
their parents. Directory content will encompass
Jayme Jamison - Polk County
History Center
Aligning with the Strategic Plan of Polk
Jennifer Kovac - Polk County
Library Cooperative Educators and researchers have long County Schools, the goal of the Polk
Lindsay Persohn - Polk
County Public Schools recognized the importance of mastering Vision Literacy Team is to increase student
reading by the end of third grade. literacy proficiency. In order to support
Claire Schwartz -
Achievement Academy
Juan Seda - Polk County
Public Schools
Billy Townsend - Polk County
School Board
(2016 Florida
Kindergarten
Readiness Screening)
activities, programs or services related to
LITERACY LEAD TEAM
Sandy Roddenberry -
Lakeland Regional Health
41%
of children
entering
Kindergarten came
to school
proficient in
Language and
Literacy
Readiness.
Unfortunately, 47% of Polk County Schools 3rd
Diane Plowden - Co-Chair,
Polk County Public Schools
Scott Reeves - Polk County
Public Schools
Only
format of the Literacy
Pam Craven, Ph.D. - Co-Chair,
Learning Resource Center
Cheryl Joe - Polk County
Public Schools
DID YOU
KNOW?
families in understanding how to assist
Third grade is an important pivot point their students in improving reading and
in a child’s education, the time when comprehension, the Literacy Team chose
students shift from learning to read and to produce a Literacy Directory as a
begin reading to learn. Students who component of its tactical plan. The focus
fail to reach this critical milestone often for the 2016-2017 school year was to
falter in the later grades and drop out research and make connections with
before earning a high school diploma literacy program providers across Polk
(Hernandez, 2011.) County.
reading, writing, communication, technology,
speaking, performance, and related topics.
In the fall of 2017, an online version of the
Directory will be available for download on the
Polk Vision and School District websites.
RIGHT
The Literacy Team
strategizing ways to
Only
1st Edit
io
Litera
Resour cy
Direct ce
ory
n/Polk
County
46%
of students in
grades 3 - 10
scored proficient
in English
Language Arts.
(2017 Florida
Standards ELA Reading
Assessment)
increase Literacy rates
across Polk County.
Grade 3 - 10 Grade 3 - 5 Grade 6 - 8 Grade 9 - 10
FSA English
Language Arts
% Level 3 or
above
FSA English
FSA English
Language Arts Language Arts
% Level 3 or
% Level 3 or
above
above
FSA English
Language Arts
% Level 3 or
above
STATEWIDE 52% 54% 53% 56% 52% 53% 50% 51%
POLK 45% 46% 47% 50% 45% 45% 41% 42%
2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017
Literacy has been linked as the key to life-changing hope, success, and even freedom. Our
literacy team took on a daunting task and chose to start with a directory that will be the
bridge between needs and the many resources that are currently available. We hope that it
continues the conversation and grows the awareness that literacy, for everyone, is indeed
important and highly valued.” — Diane Plowden, Director of K-12 Writing,Teaching and Learning, Polk County Public Schools
13
Literacy Team
14