At Columbus Public Schools, we believe reading is the foundation for everything else a student will learn. That's why CPS has made K-4 literacy a top priority, and why our elementary teachers will spend four additional days this year in advanced training designed to strengthen how reading is taught in our classrooms.

The first of these training days is Wednesday, September 16, meaning elementary students will have a day off while their teachers are in professional development. Three more training days will follow later in the year, and we'll share those dates as soon as they're finalized.

This effort is tied to Nebraska's Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant, a $55 million, five-year federal investment the Nebraska Department of Education received in 2024 to strengthen literacy instruction statewide, from birth through grade 12. Districts across Nebraska are using CLSD support to fund coaching, materials, and — most importantly — deep professional learning for teachers.

At CPS, that professional learning centers on LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), a rigorous, research-based training that gives teachers a deeper understanding of how children learn to read — covering phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. States and districts that have committed to LETRS training have seen measurable gains in early reading proficiency, and we expect the same here in Columbus.

We know reading and literacy scores don't tell the whole story of a child's success. But we also know that a student reading at or above grade level by third or fourth grade has a much stronger foundation for everything that follows — in school and beyond. The extra days off are a short-term trade-off for a long-term investment in your child's future.

Thank you for your understanding as we build stronger readers, together.

Dr. Chip Kay
Superintendent
Columbus Public Schools