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Reading proficiently by third grade is a critical milestone for lifelong learning. In St. Louis, The Opportunity Trust is leading an ambitious effort to help more students reach this goal through the Emerson Early Literacy Challenge.
In 2025, four schools are joining the initiative's second cohort: Friendly Academy, Gateway Science Academy of St. Louis South Elementary, Maplewood Richmond Heights Early Childhood Center, and Moline Elementary. Together, they're expanding a citywide effort to close literacy gaps using the Science of Reading—a research-based approach emphasizing phonics, fluency, and comprehension.
Eric Scroggins, CEO of The Opportunity Trust, highlighted the measurable gains achieved by the program's first cohort. "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."
The initiative is supported by a renewed $1 million investment from Emerson, the St. Louis-based technology and software company. Each school team participates in a two-year program including professional learning, strategic planning, and coaching. Teams receive a $5,000 planning grant for the 2025-26 school year and are eligible for up to $200,000 in implementation funding the following year.
Evidence-Based Practices in Action
"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. The school has made major strides in phonemic awareness and phonics and is now deepening its work on comprehension and vocabulary.
Teachers in the program receive hands-on coaching, professional development, and collaboration with literacy experts. "Science of Reading practices help us identify where students are struggling so we can provide timely, targeted support," White explained.
For Friendly Academy, a new charter school serving kindergarten and first-grade students, the partnership is essential to establishing strong instructional practices from the start.
"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.
As these schools join the literacy challenge, they're building a foundation for educational equity that will benefit St. Louis students for years to come.