Spotswood Selected for Statewide Literacy Coaching Initiative

Spotswood Public Schools is proud to share that the district has been selected through a competitive application process to participate in the STRONG-ER Leadership Team Training and Literacy Coaching Support initiative. Offered by the New Jersey Department of Education in partnership with Rutgers University, this year-long initiative provides selected districts with intensive training and dedicated coaching support at no cost to the district, providing access to expertise and resources that will directly support our work to strengthen literacy instruction and MTSS practices.

This opportunity comes as Spotswood begins a renewed focus on strengthening our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). MTSS provides a framework for using student data to strengthen instruction and ensure students receive the support they need to be successful.

Our work began this summer with training focused on the development of a strong MTSS program. This year, our focus is literacy in grades K-5, with particular attention on Tier 1, the high-quality instruction all students receive in their classrooms each day. Strengthening Tier 1 allows us to respond to student needs early and provide additional support as part of regular classroom instruction.

This fall, our data team analyzed student literacy data and identified a target skill for each grade level. The team then developed short instructional routines that teachers are incorporating into classroom instruction three times each week. This means every student at the grade level receives additional, focused practice in an area our data shows needs strengthening. The work will take place in cycles, with each new round of data allowing us to measure student progress, adjust instruction, and determine the next area of focus.

Being selected for STRONG-ER provides an important opportunity to support and strengthen this work. Spotswood will be paired with a skilled literacy coach who will work directly with our team throughout the entire school year, providing ongoing guidance and expertise as we evaluate our practices, strengthen instruction, and build systems that allow us to respond more effectively to student needs.

Ultimately, this work is designed to ensure that student needs are identified early, instruction responds directly to what our data tells us, and students receive additional support before small gaps have the opportunity to become larger ones.