Press Release

[NEW YORK CITY] –The United States is facing a critical reading crisis. One that jeopardizes the future of millions of children nationwide. 

A crisis exacerbated by economic disparities, limited access to quality education, and inconsistent early literacy teaching methods. 

“Despite knowing what good science in reading looks like, we haven't moved the achievement gap quickly enough,” said Dr. Susan Neuman, a renowned expert in Childhood Literacy Education at New York University. 

In an effort to swiftly address alarming declines in national reading scores, Lavinia Group has launched the RedThread Foundations phonics program. 

Lavinia Group, known for its expertise in partnering with K-12 schools to grow math and literacy achievement, has responded with a program that is both research-based and deeply engaging for young learners.

An independent study conducted by Dr. Neuman revealed the program’s ability to rapidly improve student reading proficiency levels.

“The children we studied in first grade started the year off at the pre-primer level, which is lower than we would hope.  At the end of six-weeks, we saw substantial growth with almost half of the children now reading grade level text.  These results not only highlight the importance of high-quality phonics instruction, it also shows how such training can lead to greater reading improvement,” said Dr. Neuman. 

Quantitative evidence from the study showed a 99.9% likelihood that given a sample similar to the study sample, RedThread Foundations would produce similarly positive results.

Research published in November of 2022 by the American Psychological Association Publication shows that economically disadvantaged students are roughly 3 academic years behind their peers according to academic tests.

Despite this, in New York City, District 5, the RedThread Foundations program significantly improved the reading levels of first graders in a remarkably short time frame, and in a school where 88 percent of the students that attend are economically disadvantaged.

“We underestimate children, especially children who come from high-poverty communities,” said Dr. Neuman.  

The development of RedThread Foundations was driven by an acute need to demystify the science of reading and address the inconsistent teaching methods across the U.S. in early literacy instruction. 

“This program provides teachers with exact, actionable guidance, which is especially crucial for new teachers or teachers adapting to curriculum changes,” Dr. Neuman said.

The program's specific lesson plans and training are distinctly better than the often un-detailed lesson plans of widely used phonics curricula.

“In my discussions with educators using current phonics curricula, a common theme emerged: the absence of clear guidance for teachers. They frequently mentioned the need for explicit teaching instructions, consistent routines, and a well-defined sequence for phonics instruction as their primary concerns,” said Dr. Neuman.

Jackie Taslim, Co-President of Lavinia Group and former literacy  teacher in the Bronx, adds: "The key to cultivating confident readers is to provide teachers with absolute

clarity in  teaching methods. Understanding the science of reading and proficiently teaching phonics in the classroom are distinct skills. RedThread Foundations addresses this by offering a structured, easy-to-follow approach that demystifies the complexities of early reading instruction."

Building on this foundation, RedThread Foundations further enhances its approach with clear, direct, and systematic instruction. The curriculum is meticulously designed to be both prescriptive and flexible, striking a balance that allows educators to tailor instruction to meet individual student needs while remaining specific enough to provide explicit instruction. This dual focus ensures that the program is adaptable to various learning environments and student requirements, yet maintains a clear and structured framework for effective teaching.

“RedThread Foundations' lesson plans include much more than basic guidelines for educators. They clearly outline the practical implementation of concepts, providing detailed, step-by-step instructions. These plans cover not just what to teach but also how to teach it effectively. They vividly describe how each concept should look and sound in the classroom," said Dr. Neuman. “This comprehensive and detailed approach, coupled with the consistent, repetitive use of nonverbal cues and gestures in regular routines, is what distinguishes this curriculum from any other.”

Recognizing the importance of practice in skill development, RedThread Foundations includes an extensive collection of 170 multicultural decodable books. 

“These books are not just supplementary; they are central to our program, reinforcing the phonics skills learned each week so teachers can rapidly build reading confidence,” said Taslim. “If we build transferable skills that foster independent readers, the result is an early literacy program that sets children on the path to success for their entire academic career.” 

Lavinia Group's RedThread Foundations (K-5) and RedThread Knowledge (K-8) ELA curriculum uniquely integrate a relevant, grade-specific theme across both the knowledge-building and phonics curriculum components, including decodable books. The addition of RedThread Foundations completes their comprehensive literacy support for schools.

ABOUT LAVINIA GROUP

Lavinia Group, a division of K12 Coalition, is dedicated to propelling K-12 schools toward rapid academic growth in math and literacy. Renowned for its revolutionary curriculum, instructional coaching, professional development, and summer learning programs, Lavinia Group consistently achieves double-digit improvements in student performance. Its collaborative, immersive approach with educators and school leaders ensures long-term, sustainable academic success.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Monica McShaffrey, Communications Manager

monica.mcshaffrey@k12coalition.com