News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Ella White Principal Meaghan Black speaks about the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) method of teaching children how to read.

ALPENA — Low state test scores in reading is a cause for concern in the Alpena Public Schools district, but a science of reading program currently being piloted at Ella White Elementary appears to be making strides in student literacy.

At the APS board of education workshop meeting Monday night, Ella White Principal Meaghan Black discussed the impact that the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) method is having on both students and teachers.

UFLI utilizes the science of reading which emphasizes that reading is not innate, requiring explicit, systematic instruction in phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

UFLI complies with dyslexia legislation PA 146 signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that will take effect in the 2027-2028 school year. The district will receive grant funding for implementing UFLI by the 2026-2027 school year.

Ella White first grade teacher Lori Stoen piloted UFLI in her classroom last school year. This school year, all kindergarten through second grade classrooms at Ella White are using UFLI.

UFLI consists of a daily 30 minute lesson. Each lesson has eight components to it: visual drill and auditory drill, blending drill, new concept introduction, word work and dictation (reading and writing), and connected text (applying skills to real reading).

Then, teachers implement weekly assessments to gauge students’ understanding of the lessons taught that week.

The assessments drive small group instruction and give teachers information about each student to determine how many minutes of instruction they need to master the concept.

Black shared images of a lesson in action where students are writing on whiteboard desks and changing letters to create words. In the example, the students started with the word “wick” which they changed to “wink” and then to “rink.”

Black shared feedback from Stoen.

“UFLI has given my students the chance to be involved and engaged when learning how to read,” Stoen said. “They enjoy the task repetition from lesson to lesson that allows them to practice new reading/spelling patterns with ease! UFLI has led to some amazing word discussions in my classroom this year and I look forward to seeing their growth at the end of the year!”

Black said that one kindergarten teacher who was dead set against implementing UFLI found that it really worked for her students within a couple of months.

“All of the sudden, the kids just started, it was clicking, ‘they’re reading, they’ve never read this early in kindergarten before!'” Black said, quoting the teacher. “She was so excited.”

Teachers are excited about the fact that kids are writing and getting that practice with UFLI.

“And the kids love it, they have such a good time with it,” Black said.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

*Alpena Montmorency Alcona Educational Service District (AMA ESD) Special Education Supervisor Ashley Peterson and APS Assistant Superintendent Stacy Moors discussed the progress of the Emotional Impairment (EI) classroom, also called the SOAR room, at Ella White. The classroom is overseen by the AMA ESD.

*AMA ESD Superintendent Justin Gluesing talked to the board about renovations to be done in the EI classroom and signing a lease for the next 10 years, although board members want to negotiate a five year lease.

*Moors discussed the calendar planning process for the 2026-2027 school year.

*Moors discussed the implementation of behavioral threat assessment and management (BTAM). By Oct. 1 all schools in Michigan need to have multi disciplinary behavior threat assessment management teams to abide by state law.

*Several bid proposals were discussed and will be voted on at the board’s regular meeting on Feb. 23. Those bids include chromebooks, e-rate bid proposal, and bids for continued Safe Warm Dry bond work.