Reading Is a Right: Fixing TSD’s Literacy Crisis with Equity, Action, and Accountability

Thompson School District (TSD) faces a serious challenge—and it’s not just about test scores. While district-wide reading proficiency hovers at 45%, matching the state average, that surface-level number conceals a troubling trend. As recently reported by the Berthoud Surveyor, 27% of eighth-grade students in TSD are reading three or more grade levels behind. That’s over 900 students. Let that sink in.

This is not a failure of our students. It’s a systemic failure—and one we have the power to address.

What the Numbers Say

TSD serves over 15,000 students across 32 schools. The district boasts a strong 90% graduation rate, and a student–teacher ratio of 16:1. But reading performance has stagnated, especially among the students who need the most help.

These challenges are not new. They’re reflected in the district’s own Strive 2025 plan, which acknowledges persistent achievement gaps among students who are racially, economically, linguistically, and cognitively diverse. Addressing these disparities isn’t just a nice idea—it’s central to TSD’s long-term success.

Root Causes: Equity, Implementation, and Investment

1. Achievement Gaps

   
   

   • Students of color, English learners, and low-income students consistently face higher barriers to reading success.

   • Spanish-speaking English learners often have strong decoding skills but struggle with comprehension due to language development gaps, according to peer-reviewed research.

   
   

2. Implementation Issues with the Colorado READ Act

   
   

   • Despite over $230 million in state investment, the READ Act has failed to significantly move the needle.

   • Challenges include lack of teacher training, inadequate intervention systems, and weak progress monitoring.

   
   

3. Underfunding and Staffing Shortages

   
   

   • TSD is already managing $325 million in deferred maintenance.

   • The district spends slightly below the state average per student and struggles to retain teachers, particularly reading specialists.

   
   

4. Inconsistent Tiered Supports

   
   

   • While RtI systems are in place, they’re unevenly applied and often lack resources for Tier 3 support.

   • A state case study found major variability in how schools track and intervene with struggling readers.

   
   

   
   

A Campaign Vision for Literacy: From Crisis to Confidence

Here’s what I believe: Every child in this district deserves to learn how to read—and to love reading. We can no longer treat literacy as one item on a long list of priorities. It must be the foundation of everything else.

Here are five campaign-aligned strategies I will fight for as a school board member:

1.  Early Intervention Revolution

• Hire full-time K-2 reading specialists in every elementary school

• Expand pre-K programming with literacy goals

• Launch bilingual family literacy nights and book programs in underserved neighborhoods

2.  Science of Reading Reform

• Replace outdated curricula with structured literacy approaches grounded in the science of reading

• Provide 100+ hours of teacher training and mentorship in evidence-based instruction

• Implement fidelity checks and classroom observation protocols

  
  

  
  

3.  Equity-Driven Literacy Support

• Develop dual-language programs and bilingual assessments

• Expand reading interventions for English learners

• Support reading accommodations through special education services

  
  

  
  

4.  Progress Monitoring and Accountability

• Use tri-annual assessments and data dashboards to track student reading

• Communicate progress to families regularly and transparently

• Align reading performance goals with school leader evaluations

5. Community and Family Engagement

• Build mobile reading clinics and weekend tutoring centers

• Create volunteer programs and partnerships with local libraries

• Make home libraries a reality for every student

Why It Matters

Reading is the gateway to everything else—math, science, civic engagement, career pathways, and lifelong learning. When 1 in 4 eighth graders can’t read at grade level, we’re not just facing an academic issue. We’re facing a moral one.

If elected, I will treat this literacy gap as a solvable crisis. I will push the district to invest in the programs, people, and partnerships we know can make a difference. And I will keep families updated every step of the way.

Because every child in Thompson deserves to feel the confidence of picking up a book and understanding what it says. And every parent deserves to know that their child’s school is fighting for that right.

Reading is freedom. Let’s make sure every child in TSD gets it.