By Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice
OKLAHOMA CITY – About $1.5 million in private donations are being used to train literacy coaches in 10 locations across Oklahoma as part of an effort to improve students’ reading proficiency, officials announced Tuesday.
The State Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday unveiled a plan, named the Oklahoma Literacy Initiative, which supporters said will boost the reading levels of children enrolled in seven traditional districts, two charter schools and one neighborhood school.
The announcement comes as educators begin preparing to implement the Strong Readers Act, which beginning in the 2027-28 school year, requires third graders to be held back if they score below a basic grade level in reading. The legislation, which the State Chamber backed, also requires more literacy coaches.
Chad Warmington, president and CEO of the State Chamber, said private investment is the “part that was missing” for Oklahoma to see results like in Mississippi.
Oklahoma leaders have said they want to replicate the success of Mississippi’s education reforms as that state dramatically rose in national rankings over a decade with similar reading legislation and long-term investments. Mississippi’s success is credited in large part to a $100 million private donation.
Seven full public school districts were selected out of more than 20 applicants, including Ardmore, Beaver, Burns Flat-Dill City, Maysville, McAlester, Meeker and Valliant Public School.
