The theme of IMSE’s busy year has been growth with purpose. From expanding our impact through the IMSE Foundation to forging new partnerships and launching new classroom resources, the developments we’ve seen in 2025 will resonate far beyond IMSE’s walls.

Alongside our wonderful educators, schools, communities, and supporters, we’ve passed many milestones, led by an unwavering commitment to empower every student. Let’s celebrate the accomplishments, innovations, and momentum that shaped the year, and look ahead to the brighter future that effective literacy instruction can offer.

 

IMSE Literacy Summit: Elevating the Conversation on Structured Literacy



In the spring, IMSE hosted educators, administrators, and literacy leaders nationwide for a day of virtual learning at the IMSE Literacy Summit. This event featured keynote speaker Dr. Terrie Noland and a lineup of expert-led sessions focused on evidence-based strategies that improve literacy outcomes.

Presentations from Dawn Brookhart, Dr. Tiffany Hogan, and the educator team of Dr. Nell Thompson and Nickie Nelson showcased practical insights, real-world innovation, and the critical importance of strong leadership and system-wide support.

It’s no accident that the messages of these independent experts coalesced around a single idea: when educators are well-equipped and well-supported, literacy gains happen.

Leaders: Watch for news about our 2026 summit coming soon!

 

Champion Growth: Schools & Districts Leading with IMSE

 


From coast to coast, educators have been driving impressive literacy gains with IMSE’s support. These schools and districts represent just a small portion of the extraordinary progress happening nationwide.

  • Central Point Elementary School (OR) partnered with IMSE three years ago, implemented a tier-one and tier-two alignment around Structured Literacy, and has since built a stronger foundation in K-2 instruction with measurable success.
  • Value Schools (CA) turned around declining literacy and writing scores by training reading specialists in IMSE’s approach and supporting every teacher. This has resulted in improved student outcomes and elevated teacher morale.
  • Pinedale High School (WY) addressed longstanding reading gaps among older students by introducing IMSE’s evidence-based literacy strategies. The school reported a dramatic decline in students reading below basic proficiency, from 29% of 9th graders to just 6.2%
  • Durango School District (CO) standardized literacy instruction across PreK–12 with IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham+ program, creating consistency in classrooms. The district has witnessed a 39% increase in the number of proficient kindergarteners on DIBELS 8 under this initiative.
  • East Windsor Regional School District (NJ) expanded IMSE training for special-education teachers in grades 3-5 and beyond, adopting sequential, multisensory literacy instruction that has led to gains in reading fluency among struggling learners.
  • Poway Unified School District (CA) implemented IMSE’s literacy program across general and special education, raising kindergarten students performing at or above grade level from approximately 57% to 91% in just one year. Now, other districts are eager to follow their model.

 

Expanding Our Impact: Six New IMSE Offerings Supercharging Literacy Instruction

 


This year, IMSE focused on one goal above all: making effective literacy instruction easier, more supported, and more sustainable for educators. Every new offering we introduced, from refreshed curriculum tools, to flexible training options and deeper district alignment, was shaped directly by what teachers and leaders told us they needed most.

We worked to remove barriers by simplifying implementation, streamlining planning and assessment, expanding into Pre-K to support early childhood educators, and providing districts with personalized guidance when they need it. Each advancement amplified the others, creating a more cohesive ecosystem that empowers educators at every level.

Together, these efforts underscore IMSE’s commitment to listening, adapting, and delivering solutions that drive meaningful improvement in teaching and learning.

 

Celebrating One Year of the IMSE Foundation

 


The IMSE Foundation proudly celebrated its first anniversary in May, marking an inspiring year of providing Structured Literacy training for educators who need it most. Created to address the resource gaps facing many schools, especially those in historically underserved communities, the Foundation offers scholarships that equip teachers with IMSE’s proven, evidence-based instructional tools.

With nearly 40% of students nationwide struggling to read at a basic level, offering this form of support in 2025 was more critical than ever. Scholarship recipients have already demonstrated the powerful impact of the program by using theory learning to achieve measurable gains in student confidence and ability.

As the Foundation enters its third year, its mission remains the same: increase access, promote effective instruction, and ensure every educator is ready to help every student with literacy.

 

What’s Next for IMSE?

 


This year, IMSE pursued its mission along several important dimensions: we broadened our educator support through new products and services, spread principles of Structured Literacy through events and professional development opportunities for educators, and enabled gains in classrooms nationwide with practical resources and evidence-based approaches. The entire time, our growth was driven by a purpose that will carry us through 2026 as well: listening to educators and providing the solutions that they need.

We remain committed to being the ultimate literacy ally for educators. Together with a growing number of districts, we’re going to spend the next twelve months, and beyond, working to ensure every student has the literacy skills they need to thrive. 

 


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