Closing the literacy gap, one child at a time

INK! provides early literacy intervention to children entering VPK, kindergarten, and first grade.

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Closing the literacy gap, one child at a time

 INK! provides early literacy intervention to children entering VPK, kindergarten, and first grade

What is FLY (Five Learning Years)?

Studies show that young students who start behind in literacy tend to stay behind.  Since 2014, the FLY program has successfully fought this troubling trend with proven early intervention techniques.

The Five Learning Years (FLY) program

How the program works:

  • Struggling students are assessed, placed in small groups, and tutored using the Nemours BrightStart early literacy curriculum (Pre-K and Kindergarten) and Wilson Fundations curriculum (First grade).
  • Students improve by 78% – 100% on average after FLY intervention.
  • The literacy gap is reduced to 6% or lower each year.
  • 98% of FLY students demonstrate significant growth after completion of the program.

The Five Learning Years (FLY) program was developed to close the literacy gap among pre-k, kindergarten and first grade students in St. Johns County.  With the use of highly qualified educators and effective curriculum, the FLY program has been successful for over eight years, and continues to expand its reach throughout the county.

The Five Learning Years (FLY) program

Contact Mary Alice Hayes at maryalice.hayes@stjohns.k12.fl.us or (904) 547-7127 for more information.

Listen to the podcast

INK! Executive Director Donna Lueders along with FLY Director Marcy Alice Hayes join Ian and Cathy to discuss the history of the FLY program, the great success it’s having with students, and where FLY is going next. You don’t want to miss this episode…

“As a retired kindergarten educator in a SJCSD title 1 school I know firsthand the benefits of the FLY program and the BrightStart! curriculum. The intense instruction in a small group setting impacts, supports and enables struggling language arts students to succeed.

I am so excited to currently support teachers and students as a FLY tutor. Teachers are stressed, the teacher shortage and the aftermath from Covid have taken their toll on our educators. It is rewarding to be an extra hand to help both teachers and students flourish.”

-Kathy Walker
FLY Tutor