When students at Moline Elementary gather for reading lessons, their teachers now use strategies that go beyond memorization — helping children connect sounds, letters, and meaning.
It’s part of a growing shift in how reading is taught in St. Louis, one that emphasizes proven practices to help more students read fluently by third grade.
That approach will expand this year as Moline Elementary and three other schools join the second cohort of the Emerson Early Literacy Challenge, an initiative focused on improving early reading outcomes and closing literacy gaps across the region.
The goal is to ensure every child can read proficiently by the end of third grade — a critical milestone for lifelong learning. Teachers participating in the program apply the Science of Reading, a research-based approach that emphasizes phonics, fluency and comprehension.
Through hands-on coaching, professional development, and collaboration with literacy experts, educators gain tools to identify where students struggle and tailor instruction to meet their needs.
“We believe literacy is the foundation for every other subject and is critical for long-term success in life,” said Amber White, principal of Moline Elementary in the Riverview Gardens School District. She said the school has made major strides in phonemic awareness and phonics and now aims to deepen the work on comprehension and vocabulary.
White added that the program’s collaborative structure is one of its greatest benefits.
“Science of Reading practices help us identify where students are struggling so we can provide timely, targeted support,” she said. The emphasis on supporting both teachers and families, she added, is key to developing confident, proficient readers.
The initiative is led by The Opportunity Trust and supported by a renewed $1 million investment from Emerson, the St. Louis-based technology and software company. The effort reflects Emerson’s commitment to education and workforce development across the region.
Four schools from across the St. Louis area were selected for the 2025 cohort:
- Friendly Academy
- Gateway Science Academy of St. Louis, South Elementary
- Maplewood Richmond Heights Early Childhood Center
- Moline Elementary
The second cohort builds on the success of the inaugural group launched in 2024 and continues a citywide effort to close literacy gaps and give young readers a stronger start. Through the partnership, participating teachers receive expert coaching, structured professional learning, and classroom tools that strengthen instruction and student outcomes.
For Friendly Academy, a new charter school in the Kingsway West neighborhood, the opportunity represents both a learning investment and a cultural foundation.
“As a new school, this partnership allows us to start strong and stay strong, ensuring every child who walks through our doors learns to read and learns to love reading,” said Dr. Tesha Robinson, founder and CEO of Friendly Academy.
Robinson said one of the biggest challenges in reading instruction is putting the Science of Reading into daily classroom practice. The program, she said, bridges that gap by helping teachers connect research with their instructional materials.
“It allows them to use data to identify specific skill gaps, deliver targeted instruction, and ensure every student gets what they need to become a confident reader,” she added.
Friendly Academy serves kindergarten and first-grade students. Robinson said the program will help shape the school’s culture by showing that strong instruction and deep care go hand in hand.
“It equips our teachers with the knowledge and tools to teach reading with excellence and consistency, creating a community where literacy is seen as both love and opportunity,” she said.
Each school team will participate in a two-year program that includes professional learning, strategic planning, coaching from nationally recognized literacy experts, and a site visit to a school that has accelerated reading outcomes. Each team will receive a $5,000 planning grant for the 2025-26 school year and will be eligible for up to $200,000 in implementation funding the following year.
The Opportunity Trust, which leads the initiative, saw measurable gains from the first cohort, said CEO Eric Scroggins.
“We’ve already seen the power of giving schools the right tools and support through our first cohort,” he said. “With this second cohort, we’re expanding that momentum and proving that real change for students is possible when we anchor our work in evidence-based practices.”
Founded in 2018, The Opportunity Trust partners with educators and community leaders to close opportunity gaps and improve outcomes for students across the region. The literacy initiative also aligns with a 2022 state law that requires schools to adopt reading instruction grounded in the Science of Reading.
“At Emerson, we believe literacy is the foundation for both academic and life success,” said Akberet Boykin Farr, vice president of human resources at Emerson. “We are proud to continue this investment and support schools in their mission to ensure every child has the tools they need to thrive. When children learn to read early and well, it opens the door to confidence, curiosity, and success in every subject that follows.”
White said collaboration across schools has been one of the program’s greatest strengths.
“Connecting with other schools expands our learning, strengthens our community, and creates a support system that’s essential for this work,” she said.