Kansas Blueprint for Literacy: Building a Foundation for Economic Growth
Kansas lawmakers recently made a significant advancement in addressing literacy challenges with the passage of the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy legislation. Gov. Laura Kelly has endorsed this crucial bill, which seeks to standardize and energize K–12 reading instruction across the state.
The Kansas Blueprint for Literacy amends teacher education programs to improve literacy classroom instruction through systemic and explicit teaching strategies:
- Phonemic awareness
- Phonetics
- Fluency
- Vocabulary
- Reading Comprehension
Both preservice and in-service Kansas educators will receive professional development in the science of reading, Structured Literacy, and screening and assessment tools. The legislation also directs the Kansas Board of Regents to appoint a director of literacy education and create a literacy committee to oversee this initiative.\
Recently, several important literacy programs from Voyager Sopris Learning® have been added to the Kansas “At Risk” approved list of literacy evidence-based programs from the Kansas Board of Regents:
- Sound Partners for English Learners for Grades K–2
- Sound Partners for Struggling Readers for Grades K–2
- Voyager Passport® for Grades K–6
These literacy solutions are grounded in evidence-based practices and are designed for systematic, direct, and explicit instruction within Structured Literacy programs. The solutions cover foundational literacy skills such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Additionally, the materials are beneficial and implementation is flexible to be used for tutoring and accelerated learning.
Voyager Passport received an ESSA “Strong” Tier 1 rating based on statistically significant research showing improved student outcomes in literacy. Sound Partners received an ESSA “Strong” Tier 1 rating for “Solid Outcomes” and follow-up studies found the positive effects were maintained two years later in word reading and comprehension. Numerous independent reviews of the program’s research have also confirmed its efficacy.
Why These Programs Matter
Since Lexia’s LETRS® (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) supports literacy professional development across the state and guides teachers about which literacy skills to teach, both Sound Partners and Voyager Passport offer excellent follow ups for implementing science of reading-aligned strategies in Kansas classrooms.
Voyager Passport is a research-proven intervention solution for students in grades K–5. Through a blended format, students receive teacher-led explicit and systematic instruction in the five essential components of reading, plus language and writing. Voyager Passport accelerates student literacy achievement by targeting critical skills and providing strategies learners need to become fluent, on-level readers.
Sound Partners is a research-based supplementary tutoring program designed to enhance early reading skills. With individualized instruction, Sound Partners emphasizes phonemic and alphabetic skills, phonemic decoding skills, and assisted oral reading practice with decodable texts. Sound Partners benefits students learning to read in grades K–1 and provides intervention for students in grades 2–3.
