From the Field · Originally shared on LinkedIn by Gary D. Soto (August 2026)
If the reading plan changes every August, the problem may not be the plan.
In 2024, 40% of fourth-graders scored below NAEP Basic in reading. That number is not the same as a state’s grade-level proficiency rate, but it is a serious national warning.[1]
Schools do not need another disconnected initiative. They need leaders who can help adults turn evidence into daily practice: strong core instruction, Systematic Explicit Instruction, useful progress monitoring, and support that reaches the classroom.
That work is harder than buying a program. It asks a leadership team to get specific:
- What should students experience in every classroom?
- How will teachers know whether it is working?
- What will the school do when students need more time or a different approach?
Gary D. Soto Consulting helps district and site leaders connect instructional leadership, The Science of Reading, Best First Instruction, and evidence-based MTSS into a system people can actually use.
Every student can learn. The adult system has to make that belief visible.
If your literacy plan is strong on paper but inconsistent in classrooms, send me a message or connect with GDS at https://garydsoto.com/card/.
#InstructionalLeadership #ScienceOfReading #MTSS #SchoolImprovement
Sources
[1] 2024 NAEP Reading, Grade 4 — nationsreportcard.gov — NAEP Reading: National Trends and Student Skills (2024)