The Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) is a statewide K-12 initiative managed by the Department of Education. The goal of ARI is to significantly improve reading instruction and ultimately achieve 100% literacy among public school students. The Alabama Reading Initiative training for teachers helps them teach reading in proven and effective ways.  There are 899 ARI schools across the state.

What is the goal of the ARI?

The goal of the ARI and the goal set by faculties of all ARI schools is 100% literacy. 100% literacy means that all students will be able to read and comprehend materials they typically encounter in their classrooms.

What sets ARI apart from other reading programs?

The ARI is not a program, but an ongoing professional development opportunity for a school faculty. It is a research-based extensive teacher-training program to show teachers how to achieve high levels of literacy for all of their students. ARI professional development empowers teachers with the content knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to be successful with all students, especially those that challenge them the most - struggling readers.

Newton School ARI Program

Newton School is now completing our first year of implementation in the ARI Initiative.  While the State Department of Education requires K - 3 implementation, our school is including professional development and monthly data meetings in grades 4 - 5 also so that our entire elementary faculty is trained on this effective program

Our highly talented reading coach, Caroline Hollowell, directs monthly data meetings to review students' reading achievement levels, collaborate on effective measures to implement in reading instruction, and share the latest research on effective reading instruction. 

For more information on our ARI program, visit Mrs. Hollowell's webpage.