Brewer plans boost in reader proficiency

BREWER – A new Reading Action Plan for elementary pupils in Brewer is aimed at making pupils proficient in reading by grade three.

Elaine Emery, director of instruction, told the Brewer School Committee on Monday that the 2002-03 Maine Educational Assessment for Brewer shows that pupils are in need of reading assistance.

“According to the grade four reading MEAs, 40 percent of our students are meeting or exceeding standards,” she said. “We want to ensure all students are proficient readers by the end of grade three.”

Emery said pupils need reading reinforcement at a young age.

“A large body of research is saying basically the same thing: Students who are not proficient readers by age 9 can count on a lifetime of academic challenges,” she said.

Even though Brewer’s numbers are low, they are higher than the state average, said Superintendent Betsy Webb.

“We are above state averages … but we can do more,” she said before the board approved the plan.

The Reading Action Plan is designed to coordinate and focus Brewer’s resources and emphasize five essential elements: phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, comprehension and fluency.

The plan ties in well with a proposed literacy collaboration with the University of Maine, said Emery. The collaboration requires a vote by teachers, which will take place next week.

“You must have 80 percent commitment from the teachers,” Emery said. “We’re crossing our fingers for that.”

If the collaboration is approved, a literacy collaborative coordinator will then be selected. This person will spend six or seven weeks in training for the position and will use those skills to educate other instructors in the district.

“Seventy percent of the schools that participate in the literacy collaboration are achieving significant gains,” Emery said.

During the meeting, Pamela Kimball, principal at the Washington and State Street Schools, informed the school committee that the district received a $45,000 math grant to improve its math program. She said most of the funds would be used for professional development and the rest would be used for leadership training and supplies. A small portion could be used for transportation.

“This grant is all about a plan to develop mathematics,” said Kimball, adding that the funds became available on April 1. “We’re excited about getting going.”