1
Analyzing a Schoolwide Literacy Program
Tamara Sepulveda
LIT 5243 Leading Literacy
Dr. Katrina Schultz
July 13, 2025
, 2
Analyzing a Schoolwide Literacy Program
Public School #3, or PS #3, is located in the small urban town of West New York, NJ.
The West New York School District consists of six elementary schools, a middle school, a
freshman academy, and the high school. The town is predominantly Hispanic, so we have many
ELL students. PS #3 consists of about 530 students from grades K through 6th. Our building also
provides classrooms for the Early Childhood Education Program, Pre-K 3 and 4. Currently, we
hold school wide assessments for ELL students called ACCESS testing and the NJSLA state
testing for all students from grades 3 through 6. The NJSLA test is given towards the end of the
school year in May for about 2 weeks. The test provides data on student growth and achievement
from grade to grade. These assessments also provide data to be used as an insight on instruction,
identifying learning gaps, and helping the school, by grade level, to set improvement goals.
According to Wexler et. al., in 2017 the National Assessment of Educational Progress
determined that almost “65% of eight grade students performed at or below a basic reading level,
and 89% of students with disabilities (SWDs) performed at or below a basic reading level”
(Building a Sustainable School-Wide Adolescent Literacy Model in Middle Schools: Guidance
for Administrators, 2019). Since then, the world went through a life-changing event with the
Covid-19 pandemic. Due to schools closing down and then virtual learning, teachers noticed a
significant decline in students’ literacy skills. The learning gap was noticeable when the NJSLA
assessment was reinstated in 2022 after it was cancelled for 2 years. Due to these scores, the
district decided to make some changes to work on closing the learning gap.
Introduction to the Data: Literacy Program Analysis Survey
The data below is based on the literacy programs that the district has been implementing
since schools reopened after the pandemic. The literacy programs include IXL, Achieve 3000,
Analyzing a Schoolwide Literacy Program
Tamara Sepulveda
LIT 5243 Leading Literacy
Dr. Katrina Schultz
July 13, 2025
, 2
Analyzing a Schoolwide Literacy Program
Public School #3, or PS #3, is located in the small urban town of West New York, NJ.
The West New York School District consists of six elementary schools, a middle school, a
freshman academy, and the high school. The town is predominantly Hispanic, so we have many
ELL students. PS #3 consists of about 530 students from grades K through 6th. Our building also
provides classrooms for the Early Childhood Education Program, Pre-K 3 and 4. Currently, we
hold school wide assessments for ELL students called ACCESS testing and the NJSLA state
testing for all students from grades 3 through 6. The NJSLA test is given towards the end of the
school year in May for about 2 weeks. The test provides data on student growth and achievement
from grade to grade. These assessments also provide data to be used as an insight on instruction,
identifying learning gaps, and helping the school, by grade level, to set improvement goals.
According to Wexler et. al., in 2017 the National Assessment of Educational Progress
determined that almost “65% of eight grade students performed at or below a basic reading level,
and 89% of students with disabilities (SWDs) performed at or below a basic reading level”
(Building a Sustainable School-Wide Adolescent Literacy Model in Middle Schools: Guidance
for Administrators, 2019). Since then, the world went through a life-changing event with the
Covid-19 pandemic. Due to schools closing down and then virtual learning, teachers noticed a
significant decline in students’ literacy skills. The learning gap was noticeable when the NJSLA
assessment was reinstated in 2022 after it was cancelled for 2 years. Due to these scores, the
district decided to make some changes to work on closing the learning gap.
Introduction to the Data: Literacy Program Analysis Survey
The data below is based on the literacy programs that the district has been implementing
since schools reopened after the pandemic. The literacy programs include IXL, Achieve 3000,
