Stockton Unified sees reading score surge after new literacy program

The district's SIPPS program has boosted early reading skills and student confidence.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 4:58am

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After years of low literacy rates, California's Stockton Unified School District has seen a significant increase in early reading scores following the implementation of a new literacy program called SIPPS (Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words). The program has helped K-2 students build fluency and comprehension skills, with the district reporting a 19% jump in the number of students reading at grade level.

Why it matters

Improving early literacy is crucial for student success, as reading proficiency by third grade is a strong predictor of future academic achievement. Stockton Unified's efforts to transform its literacy instruction through the SIPPS program could serve as a model for other districts struggling with low reading scores.

The details

The SIPPS program focuses on explicitly teaching phonics, phonemic awareness, and sight word recognition. Teachers are trained to ensure students master each concept before moving on, rather than rushing through the curriculum. This approach has boosted student confidence and engagement, with teachers reporting that students who previously struggled with reading now enjoy the process.

  • In 2023, two-thirds of Stockton Unified's third-grade students required additional support to achieve literacy milestones.
  • In the last school year, the district saw a 19% increase in the number of K-2 students reading at grade level.

The players

Dr. Michelle Rodriguez

Superintendent of the Stockton Unified School District.

Rebecca Abellana-Delvo

Assistant principal of Taylor Leadership Academy, who has seen firsthand how the SIPPS program has transformed the school.

Kayla Borges-Vaz

A second-grade teacher who has witnessed the positive impact of the SIPPS program on her students' confidence and enjoyment of reading.

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What they’re saying

“This last year, we made a 19% increase for our K2 students. That equates to about 2,000 more students that went into first, second and third grade reading at grade level this past year.”

— Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent, Stockton Unified School District

“Before that, it was like a learned helplessness. Kids were like, 'I can't do this.' Because of the size of reading and teaching kids the explicit ways of how to read and the phonics instruction, we have seen their confidence grow so much from reading CVC words to full-on sentences.”

— Rebecca Abellana-Delvo, Assistant Principal, Taylor Leadership Academy

“I used to have first graders not even try to read directions or anything like that. Now these kids are reading to me, and they like it.”

— Kayla Borges-Vaz, Second Grade Teacher

What’s next

Stockton Unified hopes to continue expanding the SIPPS program and serve as an example for other school districts looking to improve early literacy.

The takeaway

Stockton Unified's success with the SIPPS program demonstrates that targeted, evidence-based literacy instruction can have a significant impact on student reading skills and confidence. This approach could be a model for other districts struggling with low literacy rates.