Brookings School District 05-1

Brookings School District and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northern Plains are partnering to launch Same Page, a dyslexia and literacy support initiative beginning in January 2027.

The district and Boys & Girls Clubs are grateful for the generosity of an anonymous donor and the additional Boys & Girls Clubs resources that made this $50,000 investment possible. Through this support, the organizations have developed a shared training model that extends beyond the classroom and includes learning opportunities and resources for families.

Every day, children interact with adults who can make a difference in their learning and confidence. While teachers bring instructional expertise, many other adults who regularly support students may not have training in reading development, dyslexia, or other literacy challenges.

Same Page will provide brief, targeted modules and practical resources for paraprofessionals, substitutes, coaches, Club staff, and others who work with children. Topics will include hearing sounds in words, accurately pronouncing letter sounds, using helpful language when a child struggles with reading, and understanding how reading difficulties can affect behavior. Everyday examples will help adults choose responses that support learning and reduce frustration.

The initiative will also offer deeper learning opportunities for educators and resources families can use at home. The shared library will build on modules from the Unkenholz Family Dyslexia Preparedness Program’s CARE framework, which are already being used in preservice teacher coursework at South Dakota State University.

The goal of Same Page is for more adults to understand what a struggling reader may be experiencing and how they can help. That shared understanding can make support more consistent at school, at the Club, and at home.

Additional information will be shared as the organizations prepare for the January launch.

[Read the Full Press Release]