Milford Schools Grapple With Low Reading Proficiency; Next Week’s Board Meeting Seen as Key Moment

MILFORD, Del. — With reading proficiency in the Milford School District well below state averages, some parents and educators are calling for the issue to take center stage at next week’s school board meeting.

The board will meet Monday, Aug. 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Milford Middle School on Lakeview Avenue. While the official agenda has not yet been posted, recent board minutes confirm that early literacy is one of the district’s top priorities. Advocates say now is the time for a public discussion about the district’s next steps — and for parents to have their say.

Only 34% of Milford students are reading at grade level, according to the latest state assessments. That figure falls below the Delaware average of 42% and places the district in the bottom half of public school systems for combined math and reading scores. In lower-income areas of Sussex County, which includes parts of the Milford district, up to 63% of third graders struggle with reading.

Why Third Grade Matters
Third grade is a critical milestone in education, marking the shift from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” Research shows that students who read proficiently by this grade are four times more likely to graduate high school on time.

State-Mandated Changes Already Underway
Under Delaware’s SB4 legislation, Milford has adopted an evidence-based reading curriculum for grades K–3, focusing on phonics, fluency, and comprehension. Teachers are receiving targeted professional development, and families receive summer progress reports to support at-home learning.

“We know early literacy is the foundation for all future learning,” district officials said. “Our goal is to ensure every child has the tools and instruction needed to read confidently and with understanding.”

Community and State Partnerships
Programs like Reading Assist and the Delaware Campaign for Grade-Level Reading are providing tutoring and outreach to struggling readers. The University of Delaware is partnering with local schools to offer educator coaching and initiatives such as the Latino Family Literacy Project and the Imagination Library, which provides free books to families.

The Delaware Literacy Alliance and Division of Libraries are also working to close literacy gaps through community outreach and adult education.

What Parents Can Do
District and state leaders say family engagement is critical to improving reading outcomes. Educators encourage parents to:

• Read with children daily, even for just 15 minutes.

• Ask questions about the story to help build comprehension.

• Use free resources from the Milford Public Library.

• Attend school parent night and literacy nights and workshops.

• Take advantage of tutoring programs like Reading Assist.

“Parents are a child’s first teacher,” said one literacy coach. “The small things you do at home can make a big difference in how quickly they catch up.”

Persistent Challenges
Despite statewide investments in early literacy, reading outcomes have shown only modest improvement. The 2024 Nation’s Report Card found that 45% of Delaware fourth graders scored below basic in reading, with just 20% reaching proficiency. Eighth-grade reading scores fell to a 27-year low.

In Milford, district leaders say early math scores are improving under similar structured approaches, suggesting that targeted interventions work. But older students still struggle with reading comprehension and fluency.

With one school board seat for Area C currently vacant — and literacy improvement listed as a top issue in the call for applicants — next week’s meeting could prove pivotal in shaping the district’s reading strategy going forward.