The Alachua County School Board heard reports from a local literacy needs assessment and voted to table the Newberry Charter contract at a meeting Tuesday night.
Literacy needs assessment
A literacy needs assessment presented to the ACSB revealed ongoing challenges in Alachua County’s efforts to improve reading and writing skills among children, youth and adults.
The study was conducted by the UF Lastinger Center for Learning in collaboration with the Children’s Trust of Alachua County.
Data collected between June 2024 and January 2025 included surveys, focus groups, interviews and school visits involving more than 1,300 residents, including nine elected officials and representatives from 51 community organizations.
The study found only about half of Alachua County’s K-12 students are reading at grade level, mirroring statewide trends.
The study also found disparities affecting Black students, students with disabilities and English language learners, with only one in three students in these groups reading at grade level.
While educators have access to evidence-based reading strategies, they reported curriculum misalignment, lack of professional development and insufficient instructional support as obstacles to student success. Only 41% of ACPS elementary educators agreed that their curriculum effectively helps children learn to read, and even fewer felt it helped children learn to write.
The findings show many families face limited access to age-appropriate books and educational resources, despite actively engaging in home literacy programs, including flashcards and learning games. The report cited financial and logistical challenges, such as transportation and work schedules.
The report recommends creating a centralized resource hub that offers literacy resources, increasing funding to support early literacy programs and expanding tutoring services.
The board unanimously voted to accept the report and proceed with its next steps.
Newberry Charter
The ACSB unanimously voted to table the approval of the Newberry Charter contract until the next board meeting or schedule a special meeting based on follow-up from the state regarding contract deadlines.
Teachers and parents from Newberry Elementary School voted on converting the school into a charter in April 2024. Despite a failed vote, Florida’s Charter School Review Commission approved the conversion. This decision sparked legal and ethical concerns over a diminishing role of local control in school governance.
The school is slated to open in Fall 2026.
Approving the contract would not waive the Board's rights in any legal proceedings, including the Board's pending appeal with the Charter School Appeal Commission.
The next regularly scheduled ACSB meeting is July 31.
Contact Sara-James Ranta at sranta@alligator.org. Follow her on X @sarajamesranta.
Sara-James Ranta is a journalism senior, minoring in sociology of social justice and policy. She previously served as Metro's K-12 education reporter. In her free time, SJ is watching a new show, listening to EDM or discussing Star Wars.
