Fayetteville-Manlius School District students in grades K-4 will be introduced to a new literacy program this school year. The program, Benchmark Advance, aims to reinforce students’ literacy skills using evidence-based practices developed over decades of research, also known as the science of reading. It includes instructional methods and resources that are proven effective in strengthening students’ reading comprehension, writing proficiency, and overall academic growth.
“F-M is consistently ranked as one of the top districts in New York State in literacy,” said Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Kathryn Daughton. “However, the district’s strength is not simply based on assessment scores, but in its desire to continuously improve. We work hard to ensure our curriculum and instruction is aligned to state standards, grounded in the latest research on best practices and is engaging for every student.”
After a year-long review process during the 2023-24 school year, Benchmark Advance was one of two programs piloted during the 2024-25 school year. A group of twenty-eight classrooms, representing grades K-6 across all of F-M’s elementary and middle schools, participated in the pilot. The district monitored student growth throughout the year, analyzed assessments, and reviewed student, teacher and parent feedback.
An analysis of the data and feedback showed that Benchmark Advance outperformed the other pilot program in K-4 classrooms. Benchmark Advance was highly rated among teachers in part, due to higher student engagement and interest, the observed growth for at-risk students, and the availability of resources to support different learners. Students are able to build their knowledge base in other subjects as the program offers strong ties to social studies and science. Additionally, the format of Benchmark Advance assessments is similar to the format of state assessments, and emphasizes skills like critical thinking, which helps with student preparedness.
While Benchmark Advance was a success in K-4 pilot classrooms, the feedback provided by teachers, students and families found that the 90-minute program structure did not align as well with the middle school schedule.
Even though Benchmark Advance will not be used for grades 5 and 6, the curriculum, instruction and assessments will still get a refresh this school year. Throughout the summer, F-M’s literacy curriculum specialists have been working with teams of 5th and 6th-grade teachers to develop a common framework. The framework will support future unit and lesson development to provide students with the best literacy experience based on research, and to ensure alignment with K-4 curriculum and instruction.
“In 2023 we began a review of our literacy program. Our teachers told us they needed better tools and more alignment across grades and between grades. The launch of this new program is the culmination of teacher, student and family voice, and is grounded in decades of research,” said Dr. Daughton. “We’re excited to start the new school year with a literacy program that meets the needs of our students and their teachers, and offers multiple opportunities for skill building to support all learners.”