Niagara University's College of Education has been awarded a $437,000 grant to strengthen educator preparation programs and ensure alignment with the Science of Reading. The grant was awarded to Dr. Lisa Kilanowski, professor of school psychology, and Dr. Kathleen McGrath, associate professor of literacy, who will lead the initiative on behalf of the college.

"The evidence base known broadly as the Science of Reading is not new, yet universal implementation of these practices in K-12 and higher education settings has been variable over the past several decades," said Dr. Kilanowski. "We are grateful for the opportunity to be at the forefront of educator preparation programs in progressively training future teachers, augmenting the strong instruction that they currently receive, and serving as a model and support for other institutions of higher education seeking to implement the same."

The grant was offered through the Literacy Academy Collective as part of the New York State Path Forward initiative, which is dedicated to increasing the adoption of evidence-based reading instruction practices in K-12 public schools. This initiative also emphasizes the critical need for teacher preparation programs to equip future educators with evidence-based best practices in literacy instruction.

"The Path Forward grant represents a powerful opportunity to collaborate across disciplines, programs, and communities," said Dr. McGrath. "At Niagara University, we are proud to be leading this important work that will help advance literacy outcomes for children and empower educators with evidence-based practices."

The two-year grant will provide College of Education faculty with cutting-edge training in the science of reading, delivered by The Reading League, a prominent national organization dedicated to ensuring that evidence-aligned reading instructional practices are employed in K-12 schools and higher education settings. In addition, reading-related courses will be carefully refined to ensure they are consistent with the latest research and evidence-based instructional practices.

"The College of Education is happy to be working with the Reading League to enhance student understanding of the Science of Reading as it relates to the development of literacy," said Dr. Amy Nwora, dean of the College of Education. "We're excited to be one of the pilot educational preparation programs working to ensure that New York state meets its goals for Path Forward."

The College of Education's efforts align with New York state's broader mission to close literacy gaps, improve reading outcomes, and prepare a new generation of teachers with the knowledge and skills to deliver research-based, effective instruction.