"The Voyager Universal Literacy System® plays a major role in our success," she says. "My teachers are true to the core, embrace professional learning, plan differentiated lessons, and use the data to guide their instruction."

State reading scores at Gracewood back-up Ms. Braswell's claim and prove the program is working for students. According to Braswell, scores at Gracewood continue to meet or exceed the state standards. For the past four years, first grade averaged 91.5 percent on the CRCT (Criterion Referenced Comprehension Test), second grade averaged 93.75 percent (100 percent passed in 2004), third grade averaged 81.25 percent, fourth grade averaged 79.5 percent and fifth grade averaged 81.25 percent on the high-stakes assessment test.

Many of the students in the fourth and fifth grade classrooms were also enrolled in the Voyager Universal Literacy System when they were in the lower grade levels and still see improved scores even after they exit the program. "Students that have been taught using the Voyager Universal Literacy System as the core program and have been with us since kindergarten have traditionally scored higher in the area of reading," Braswell says.

Gracewood faculty and staff constantly monitor data to see where they need to makes instructional changes or find out why they may not see growth in particular students or grade levels. "We have studied our data and discovered that our students in upper grades needed more work in comprehension. We also have a population that changes frequently and often students are with us only for short periods of time," Braswell states.

Confidence also helps to overcome some of these challenges and Braswell notes it is a key component at Gracewood, for both teachers and students. Thanks, in part to the new reading technology component, Ticket to Read™ which students began using this past spring.

"Ticket to Read has been an enormous hit with our students! This has been the best tool for building confidence in comprehension and fluency," says Braswell. "Teachers are more confident about teaching reading and actually use the data to assist in planning instruction," she adds.

So, just how much impact is Ticket to Read having on students? Braswell explains, "I was developing a behavior plan for a student experiencing behavior problems in school. When I asked him what types of things he wanted as a reward for following the plan...his reply was that he wanted more time on Ticket to Read! As a Principal, I was elated to hear that this child found this program so exciting that he was willing to change his behavior in an effort to earn more time on the computer."

Richmond County Public Schools first implemented the Voyager Universal Literacy System in 36 schools for kindergarten core reading instruction in 2001-2002 and has added a grade level each year. The program is designed for kindergarten through third grade students.