Ohio District Boosts Literacy for English Learners

Why this is here: Teachers reported that two students from Japan were able to converse in English by December, just months after beginning school in the Troy City School District.

Sarah Walters and colleagues in Troy City Schools, Ohio, are working to improve literacy rates for their English learners. The district, located roughly an hour north of Cincinnati, serves about 3% of students who speak languages like Spanish, Ukrainian, and Japanese.

After pandemic-related learning loss widened literacy gaps, Troy City Schools trained 116 staff members in the Orton-Gillingham approach. This method incorporates movement and touch into reading instruction.

Early data suggest the training is effective. District-wide third grade reading proficiency rose from 56% in 2021-22 to 81% in 2023-24.

One teacher reported two students from Japan were conversing in English by December after starting school in the fall. Another student improved their phonics score by 38 points in a similar period.

However, the district acknowledges that sustaining gains and supporting students who may return to their home countries requires ongoing effort. Troy City Schools now plans to extend the Orton-Gillingham training to neighboring districts, continuing to address the needs of multilingual learners.