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UOFL FACULTY LAUNCHING KENTUCKY READING RESEARCH CENTER
New program raises the bar for literacy education across the Commonwealth
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has tapped the college to create the Kentucky Reading Research Center, a new entity that will support educators in implementing reliable, replicable evidence-based reading programs and promote literacy development.
The project includes a two-year, $6 million contract — one of the largest competitive grant awards in the college’s history — and is renewable for up to five years. Interim Dean Amy Lingo will serve as executive director of the Center when it launches July 1.
“KDE looks forward to partnering with the University of Louisville as they establish the statewide reading research center,” said Robin Fields Kinney, Interim Commissioner of Education at the Kentucky Department of Education. “It is truly a united effort as Kentucky continues its efforts to implement evidence-based, high-quality reading instruction and meet the diverse needs of our youngest readers.”
The Kentucky Reading Research Center will deliver research and data on evidencebased, high-yield instructional practices and strategies. It will also partner with KDE to establish a research agenda evaluating early reading models, instructional resources and evidence-based practices needed to help students improve their reading ability. The center will conduct ongoing research on reading programs throughout the state, including their cost, effectiveness and how well they maintain student progress over time. Based on the annual outcomes of the center, KDE will make recommendations about programming and funding to the Kentucky General Assembly Interim Joint Committee on Education by October 1 every year.
State Sen. Stephen West (R-27), chair of the Senate Education Committee, sponsored Senate Bill 156, which called for the KDE to establish the new research center, during the 2023 Kentucky General Assembly session.
“The center will be a welcome addition to our state’s efforts to focus on evidence-based practices and improving statewide reading proficiency outcomes for students,” said West. In 2022, West and State Rep. James Tipton (R53), chair of the House Education Committee, co-sponsored the Read to Succeed Act, which called for a multifaceted approach to improve reading outcomes for all students. The Kentucky General Assembly responded and appropriated $22 million in funding to support the implementation of the act’s comprehensive efforts, among them a statewide reading research center.
“Early literacy is the foundation for life. It is critical for Kentucky students to be able to read at the highest possible grade level by the end of third grade,” Tipton said. “Our statewide reading research center and Executive Director Amy Lingo are poised to make a significant contribution to P-20 literacy efforts in our state.”
Lingo noted that she began her career as a seventh-grade teacher, where she developed a passion for teaching young people to read. Leading the Center will bring that passion and expertise full circle. “It is a privilege for me to have the opportunity to support our educators and students alike by examining effective strategies and advancing our understanding of literacy education in Kentucky,” she said. “Through interdisciplinary collaboration, cutting-edge research and community engagement, we will strive to advance our understanding of reading acquisition, comprehension and intervention strategies.”
Kentucky state educational leaders came together at Bourbon Central Elementary School to unveil the new Kentucky Reading Research Center.
