KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON — Klamath Falls City Schools (KFCS) is leading the way in early literacy transformation with the adoption of two new science-based curricula: UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) and Bookworms. This critical move, supported by the legislation passed in 2023 called the Early Literacy Success Initiative, underscores the district’s commitment to equipping students with foundational reading skills while supporting educators with the tools they need to succeed.
“These programs are grounded in explicit instruction in phonics, phonemic awareness, encoding, and decoding,” said Chelsea Woods, Principal of Mills Elementary School. “What makes them stand out is the structured approach, with set times for these key elements every day. This clarity and consistency will have a huge impact on our students’ learning.”
Woods emphasized that the new curricula address longstanding gaps in instruction.
“With our previous [curriculum] adoption, Benchmark Advance, we had to create phonics charts, supplement phonemic awareness with other programs, and add explicit vocabulary instruction ourselves. These gaps required additional work and left students without the comprehensive support they needed. UFLI and Bookworms solve those issues by integrating all these components into one clear and effective program.”
KFCS is taking proactive steps to ensure teachers are fully prepared to implement the new curricula. “We’ve included six training days before the school year starts to make sure teachers feel confident and equipped,” Woods said. Additionally, the district has invested in 1.0 FTE instructional coaches at each elementary school, funded in part through the Early Literacy Success Initiative.
“The instructional coaches are key,” Woods explained. “They’ll be in classrooms modeling best practices and supporting teachers as they navigate the new materials. Having this kind of targeted support makes all the difference in ensuring a smooth implementation.”
The district’s choice of Bookworms was particularly driven by its focus on equity. “Bookworms incorporates culturally diverse texts that build background knowledge and represent a variety of student experiences,” said Woods. “This is critical for ensuring all students feel seen and can engage meaningfully with the material. We’re particularly excited about how this will benefit students who may come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds or haven’t had access to early literacy experiences.”
Woods expressed optimism about the potential impact of the new programs on student achievement. “With the explicit instruction and cultural representation in these curricula, I’m hopeful we’ll see student progress sooner rather than later. We’ve centered this entire process on what’s best for students, and I believe these programs will deliver the results we’re aiming for.”