B6.09 - Approve the Purchase of Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight (SIPPS) Word Challenge and Extension Level Programs to Provide Developmentally Appropriate Phonics Instruction for Students in Grades 2 and Above (Academic Services)

SIPPS Challenge and Extension Level programs are research-based foundational skills programs proven to help struggling readers in Grades 2 and above build skills and confidence for fluent, independent reading. The SIPPS Challenge and Extension Level programs provide a structured literacy approach to foundational skills instruction through explicit instructional routines focused on phonological awareness, spelling-sounds, and sight words, with immediate application to reading connected text and to spelling.

The systematic scope and sequence support students who struggle with decoding, including students identified with dyslexia, in an accelerative approach. SIPPS lessons and reading practice with appropriate texts help readers achieve automaticity and accuracy, which in turn allows them to focus on comprehension.  

The Challenge and Extension Level programs teach the polysyllabic decoding strategies necessary for students, in Grades 2 and above, to become independent and fluent readers. The Challenge and Extension Level programs will be used as an intervention program for older students who can read at a Grade 1 level or higher. 

The SIPPS Challenge and Extension Level programs will be used with students in Grades 2 and above that enables struggling readers to become independent and confident readers and writers. The 2019 Fall iReady Diagnostic data resulted in 51 percent of third graders falling one or more grade levels below in reading proficiency. Additionally, 87 percent of third grade English learners students were one or more grade level below in reading proficiency.    

Students need to understand the principles of spelling-sound correspondences and to solidify a store of high-frequency words to read words and phrases fluently.  Most students need explicit teaching to build this knowledge. After decoding and high-frequency words are established, more attention can be devoted to comprehension with a focus on making meaning.

Hillsborough County Public Schools is initiating a districtwide approach to phonics instruction in the 2020/2021 school year. The district recently approved the purchase of SIPPS for students in the primary grades to provide explicit and systematic instruction.

For students in Grades 2 and above who can read at a Grade 1 level or higher, the SIPPS Challenge and Extension Level programs will be used as a developmental/intervention program to improve accurate and fluent word recognition, which leads to comprehension. The Challenge Level and Extension programs teaches the polysyllabic decoding strategies necessary for students to become independent and fluent readers. 

* Improve Student Achievement

That the Board approve the purchase of SIPPS Challenge and Extension Level programs to provide developmentally appropriate phonics instruction for students in Grades 2 and above.

Terry Connor, Deputy Superintendent for Instruction, Academic Services, terry.connor@hcps.net, (813) 272-4221

The fiscal impact is $260,000 from the K-12 Reading Categorical budget, Project 4526.