Opinion: DCPS is making needed progress on early childhood literacy

After a troubling pandemic dip, D.C. has reason to be optimistic about student reading scores — including for the youngest kids.

Four years ago, only 72% of kindergarteners finished the year on track in the Nation’s Capital. Now, that number has surged to 86% — almost 20 points above the national average, according to an internal report from the company Amplify commissioned by D.C. Public Schools. 

I’ve seen the innovative work fueling it firsthand, as an English language learner support teacher at J.C. Nalle Elementary School in Southeast D.C. I am deeply encouraged by the work of the DCPS Reading Clinic, which provides teachers with foundational training on literacy education. In just a few years, the clinic has become a driving force behind high-quality early literacy instruction in the district. 

Since about 2001, in many schools across the country, literacy instruction has become less systematic. Foundational skills such as phonics have received limited attention, even for beginners or struggling readers. Schools did not always provide teachers with a structured phonics program that makes language patterns clear. Without these tools, even skilled teachers struggle to deliver effective instruction. In place of structured materials, classrooms often rely on “word walls” with inconsistent spelling patterns and pronunciations. Such practices encourage memorization of whole words, a strategy that does little to support long-term reading development.

This is where DCPS and the DCPS Reading Clinic charted a different path. The clinic offers teachers training on structured literacy, an evidence-backed practice that teaches students the basic building blocks of reading, like phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension. The clinic has also pushed for more early screening tests to catch reading problems early. 

The clinic’s founder, Mary Clayman, initially created it in 2018 with the intention to serve teachers who are reading specialists. What began as a training initiative soon became transformative. “[Clayman] created a flywheel for the district. People came to the clinic, saw what they should be doing, then went back to their schools and did it — and they were successful,” clinic director Dr. Helen Behr told me. Their success started garnering the attention of other teachers and encouraging them to change their practices, too.

According to surveys completed by teachers after completing professional development at the clinic, 97% of teachers report feeling more confident supporting struggling readers. Teachers described the clinic as “the most useful training of their careers” and praised its non-punitive, hands-on approach.

The student outcomes show this. At the end of School Year 2024–2025, 79% of DCPS K–2 students scored at or above benchmark on literacy screenings, compared to 74% nationally, according to the same internal DCPS report. These early literacy results echo the broader gains seen citywide. In August 2025, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) released results from the state assessment in English language arts (ELA), showing the largest single-year proficiency increase since 2015. These results confirm that investments in literacy are driving transformational change across the district.

Last school year, DCPS students were less likely to be severely behind: just 13% scored “well below benchmark,” versus 16% nationally. In fact, across three consecutive years, DCPS has consistently outperformed national peers, with the most recent data showing a three-point increase in students reading on grade level, according to the Amplify data.

What has occurred in DCPS is not a one-off miracle. It is the outcome of aligned systems: the right screening tools to catch problems early, an aligned curriculum, and coaching and leadership to sustain change. Just as importantly, it required buy-in from administrators willing to prioritize literacy and coordinate across schools. 

With the right infrastructure and the will to see it through, what DCPS has achieved can be achieved anywhere. The program that began as one small clinic has now positioned Washington as a leader in K-2 education, and its success offers a blueprint for districts across the country.