Peoria Public Schools is adopting evidence-based practices.
Peoria Public Schools is adopting a new reading curriculum to align instruction in kindergarten through fifth grade with evidence-based practices called the “science of reading.”
The science of reading is made up of five best practices in instruction, as first outlined by the National Reading Panel: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary development and reading comprehension.
The move is good news for students Peoria Public Schools, where 71% of third through eighth graders couldn’t read at grade level in the most recent state data.
They aren’t the only ones in the state who are struggling: Half of Illinois students couldn’t read at grade level in 2025.
Students need evidence-based reforms to ensure they get the instruction and support they need. States such as Mississippi, Florida and Colorado offer models for Illinois to ensure its students are well equipped for success through high school and beyond.