Report from the Lincoln Parish School Board
Ruston, LA — 11/14/2025 — Kindergarten through 3rd grade students across Lincoln Parish are showing steady improvement in early reading, according to the district’s 2025 Beginning-of-Year DIBELS results.
The statewide assessment, which measures essential literacy skills for young learners, provides an early snapshot of how well students are developing the foundation needed for long-term reading success.
This fall’s numbers point to meaningful, broad-based progress. Districtwide, 50.4% of K–3 students met the reading proficiency benchmark, a five-point increase from last year. First grade posted the largest gain, climbing 12 percentage points, while third grade followed with a 10-point increase. Second grade also improved by three points, and kindergarten performance remained consistent with previous results.
Additionally, 60.4% of students in grades 1–3 reached the proficiency benchmark, up from 52% in Fall 2024, reflecting solid growth across the upper primary grade band. These early signs of growth align closely with the district’s long-range priorities.
As part of the Lincoln Parish 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, one of the district’s key commitments is strengthening K–2 Foundational Skills. This includes the districtwide rollout of the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) curriculum, which provides explicit, research-based phonics instruction designed to help students master essential early reading standards.
Superintendent Ricky Durrett noted that the progress is the direct result of shared effort across the community. “We are proud of the continued growth our students are showing in literacy. This progress reflects the dedication of our teachers, the engagement of our families, and the strength of our community partnerships,” Durrett said.
Several district initiatives have further contributed to this momentum:
Community Partnerships
The district’s collaboration with Louisiana Tech University provides teachers with professional learning tied to high-quality early literacy materials and effective instructional practices.
Science-of-Reading Instruction
Classrooms across the parish are implementing phonics-aligned lessons that follow current reading research and emphasize systematic skill development.
High-Dosage Tutoring
Schools have built dedicated intervention blocks into their daily schedules, allowing students who need additional support to receive targeted, high-impact tutoring during the school day.
Family Engagement
Parents are receiving tools, workshops, and simple at-home strategies to help reinforce reading skills and support learning beyond the classroom.
District leaders say their focus now is building on this momentum throughout the year. Continued attention to foundational literacy and sustained use of the UFLI curriculum remain central to the district’s long-term strategy.
