Skilled teachers mean skilled students, Utah Catholic Schools officials say

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SALT LAKE CITY — A new credential being offered to Utah Catholic Schools teachers is expected to help students improve their reading skills. Utah Catholic Schools are partnering with Arizona State University’s Prep Digital program to offer teachers a science of reading credential, using federal funds to help fund this program.

This new program came about after Assistant Superintendent Nikki Ward reviewed the results of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessments administered to fourth- and eighth-grade students across the nation in 2022 and observed that Utah Catholic Schools students’ math scores were significantly stronger than their reading scores.

Nationally, students had experienced learning loss particularly in math and reading during the pandemic. While the losses in Utah Catholics Schools have been less significant than those experienced by public school students, “we still see a need to increase our reading instruction and our NAEP scores,” Ward said. “We saw a definite need to help teachers improve reading instruction in their classrooms.”

The first cohort in the new science of reading credential began the program in June with two days of in-person instruction. More than 75 participants — teachers from prekindergarten through eighth grade, administrators and support staff — have enrolled in the program. They will participate in three more in-person sessions in November, March and June. These sessions will be supplemented by professional development, which will be provided over Zoom.

The program is being funded by the federal Emergency Education Relief Fund. In 2020 Congress set aside $2.75 billion of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund specifically to provide emergency assistance to students and teachers in non-public schools through the Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools (EANS) program to address digital technology, learning loss and professional development.

Ward is hopeful that the EANS funds will be available to fund future cohorts.

No changes to the reading curriculum will be necessary as a result of this program, she said. Rather, through this credential the teachers will gain knowledge and skills to better apply what the schools are already doing, Ward said.

“Science of reading refers to the research that demonstrates how children learn to read and the instructional practices that get them there,” Ward said. “We’re seeing an influx of reading instruction-based on science, scientific evidence and really just good teaching practices.”

Ward hopes to be able to offer the science of reading credential as an ongoing program. Diocesan officials are also considering offering a science of math credential.

“That continued professional development is so important for teachers to keep up on their skills,” Ward said.