Dozens of state education leaders, university faculty and foundation partners gathered on October 21 at Dorothy Dodds Elementary School to observe Moorhead Area Public Schools’ Literacy Lab, an innovative pilot program that pairs college education majors with K–3 students to improve early reading outcomes.
The Literacy Lab is a partnership between Moorhead Area Public Schools (MAPS), Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM), the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), and the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB), with funding from the JAB Foundation. The model connects teacher-prep coursework with real-world teaching experience grounded in the Science of Reading, allowing college students to deliver one-on-one literacy instruction using data-driven strategies.
“Today we saw something powerful,” said Willie Jett, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education. “This program directly connects teacher preparation to classroom practice. And most importantly, it’s helping children build confidence as readers.”
Among the eight college Early Literacy Fellows is Abigail Kor, an MSUM junior who tutors kindergarteners at S.G. Reinertsen Elementary. “Imagine how powerful this would be if implemented across the state,” Kor said. “You can see the frustration fade from children’s faces when reading starts to make sense. It’s life-changing.”
The program’s early success has drawn interest from educators and policymakers statewide as a potential model for improving literacy outcomes and strengthening Minnesota’s teacher pipeline. State education and policy leaders from North Dakota attended the event as well.
“Collaboration between agencies, schools, teacher prep and the private sector is what we need to make a difference for children," added Dr. Lucy Payne, Chair of the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. “This is happening due to the relationships and partnerships built by all those involved in the Literacy Labs.”