GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – GRPS has launched ‘Literacy in the City’ as the district rolls out new Science of Reading curriculum and training districtwide that has already proven to have an impact in schools.
During the 2025–26 school year, HMH Into Reading was piloted schoolwide at Brookside Elementary and Mulick Park Elementary, with both schools demonstrating significant growth in kindergarten reading achievement. At Brookside, kindergarten reading scores increased from the 45th to the 90th percentile, while Mulick Park saw growth from the 33rd to the 58th percentile.
‘Literacy in the City’ is a new initiative dedicated to providing routine updates on literacy initiatives at GRPS and inviting community partners to find new ways to work together to improve literacy across Grand Rapids at all ages.
“The potential and the impact that an initiative like this could have on our community is just amazing,” said Superintendent Dr. Leadriane Roby. “I'm excited to see what might come from this conversation that we're starting today.”
“Literacy in our schools is a community priority,” Mayor David LaGrand challenged attendees. “It's something that we all have to focus on.”
The HMH Into Reading curriculum is aligned with the Science of Reading, a body of research focused on how children learn to read and the instructional practices that most effectively support literacy development. After reviewing multiple curriculum options and piloting programs with teachers across the district, GRPS selected HMH Into Reading for districtwide implementation this school year.
“We learned that this program seemed to be working,” explained Director of Curriculum Jennifer Brock. “In those classrooms that piloted this program, we were seeing anywhere between a 20 to a 50 percentile point growth.”
“We want to make sure that everyone in the community understand that we are strengthening our instruction because we're focusing on the Science of Reading,” said English Language Arts Curriculum Supervisor Nanette Hersberger.
The curriculum rollout is being paired with extensive professional development for educators. GRPS has partnered with the Michigan Department of Education to provide Science of Reading training through LETRS, which stands for Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling. The district is working to train approximately 90% of eligible teachers, including all kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers and K-12 special education teachers. Already more than 200 teachers have started or completed the training.
If you are interested in attending future ‘Literacy in the City’ events, you can sign up here.