ATHENS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine visited Athens on Feb. 1, visiting two East Elementary School classrooms as part of his “ReadOhio” initiative.
The stop made East the 19th school DeWine visited thus far as part of his “ReadOhio” initiative, launched in August 2023 via the state budget. Specifically, the tour highlighted the “science of reading” at East Elementary, one of two Athens City Schools kindergarten through third grade facilities.
The science of reading refers to a method of teaching literacy with a special emphasis on phonics. It has picked up traction within the past decade; as of August 2023, Ohio became the 31st state in 10 years to adopt a policy promoting evidenced-based reading education.
Schools must adopt a science of reading-based curriculum for the 2024-25 school year, the Dayton Daily News reported. However, the initiative has been the target of at least two lawsuits — one set for trial in October — that may prevent the initiative from being enforced and implemented statewide. Currently, schools teach literacy using whatever methods they prefer.
The tour featured stops at two classrooms, one kindergarten and one third grade, where teachers led phonics instructions — featuring an emphasis on pronunciation and putting sounds together — and students eagerly participated. The instruction was interactive, using hand gestures to demonstrate sounds.
Later, DeWine met with Athens City Schools administrators, including Supt. Tom Gibbs, and East Elementary teachers, who reported their experiences teaching the science of reading.
“I think it makes it more accessible to all children,” said teacher Lindsey West. “[Science of reading] allows us to teach things in phonics they wouldn’t usually learn.”
Gibbs said that statewide policy changes helped the district adapt to the science of reading approach, which the district implemented in 2023.
“The switch from days to hours has had a positive impact for our district,” Gibbs said. “And we’ve actually decreased the number of days that we have students in session to increase the number of professional development (days) because teachers have to work together to make a plan, and that’s really important and that one is key to our success.”
According to the Ohio Department of Education, about two-thirds of Athens third graders are proficient readers, and the district has a 100% promotion rate to fourth grade reading.
