Partnering with Nebraska Schools to Accelerate CLSD Grant Literacy Outcomes
by translating the Science of Reading into measurable student gains through structured instructional support and data-driven performance coaching.
District Management Group (DMGroup) is a Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Approved Provider for Professional Learning and Materials Implementation.
A partnership with DMGroup will position you towards meeting Nebraska’s 2030 goals for literacy proficiency on NSCAS and ACT, with improvement-science performance coaching as the vehicle.
Our Breakthrough Results (BTR) program approach blends the Science of Reading with performance coaching, helping educators turn research into results quickly. We’ve done this across the country and in several Nebraska districts, including Grand Island, where Kindergarten students outperformed the previous year’s mid-year phoneme segmentation fluency benchmark by 14 points.
With DMGroup, you don’t just plan literacy improvement. You do it. You measure it. You get results fast.
Nebraska Department of Education schools that have partnered with DMGroup
Ready for Literacy Breakthrough in Your District?
Whether you’re starting with a small pilot or launching districtwide, DMGroup can help you implement with urgency and sustainability. Our team of 300+ coaches and literacy experts are ready to partner with your ESU or District to make Nebraska’s CLSD investment translate into breakthrough student literacy outcomes.
Let’s Build Your Breakthrough Plan
svaron@dmgroupK12.com 617-453-2580
Program Snapshot: Breakthrough Results for Literacy
DMGroup’s Breakthrough Results Program transforms district priorities into measurable literacy gains through targeted support aligned to the Science of Reading. Our services are structured to equip educators and leaders with the tools, clarity, and momentum to accelerate foundational reading outcomes.
1. Literacy Diagnostic:
We begin with a deep dive into your district’s literacy landscape. Our team analyzes DIBELS, i-Ready, MAP, or other local assessments to pinpoint instructional strengths and identify priority skill domains.
The result: a clear, data-informed starting point and tailored program design for each school team.
2. SMART Goal Design Aligned to the Science of Reading:
We guide school-based teams and leaders through collaborative development of high-leverage, literacy-focused SMART Goals, directly aligned to:
• How Children Learn to Read
• Phonological & Phonemic Awareness
• Phonics (Decoding & Encoding)
• Fluency
• Vocabulary
• Comprehension
This sharp goal-setting process drives focus, alignment, and accountability across every participating classroom.
3. High-Impact Weekly Performance Coaching & Embedded Professional Development:
Each team receives weekly support from a dedicated DMGroup Performance Coach. Performance Coaches support teams:
• Translate SMART Goals into daily instructional practice
• Facilitate strategy planning and real-time refinement
• Review weekly or biweekly progress-monitoring data
• Build educator capacity through embedded professional learning
With structured performance coaching, educators turn theory into practice, and practice into measurable results.
4. Data Dashboards:
Our progress monitoring dashboards compile weekly or biweekly student data (e.g., DIBELS, i-Ready, etc.) into clear, visual reports that help teams track progress, identify the effectiveness of particular strategies, spot learning or instructional gaps, and make timely decisions.
This gives your educators real-time insight to adjust instruction and accelerate literacy growth where it matters most.
5. Final Impact Report & Strategic Reflection:
At the end of each cycle, we provide a customized Outcomes Report highlighting trends in student growth, instructional improvement, and strategy impact.
These reports help district and school leaders continue to build momentum for what’s working and make informed decisions for future literacy investments.
Alignment to CLSD
✔ Comprehensive Coverage of Core Science of Reading Components
✔ Interactive and Sustained Engagement
✔ Embedded Checks for Understanding
✔ Ongoing Practice and Feedback Loops
✔ Consistent Emphasis on Structured Literacy
✔ Addressing Misconceptions with Data-Driven Coaching
Real Results
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THIRD-GRADE LITERACY 
Participating third-graders increased their reading fluency by 75% in just 10 weeks.
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THIRD-GRADE READING 
In SY 2024, 81% of BCS third-grade students scored at or above grade level in reading—an impressive leap from 53% the year before!
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ABSENTEEISM
Absenteeism among targeted middle schoolers dropped by 56% in just 10 weeks.
The Breakthrough Results Program is built on the belief that “successful change programs begin with results”...not just plans or theories. Every performance coaching session, goal, and strategy is designed to produce measurable literacy gains that teams can see, celebrate, and build on. We don’t just talk about improvement; we deliver it, with a proven track record of helping schools and districts exceed benchmarks and accelerate student literacy outcomes.
Learn more about the Breakthrough Results Program
Testimonials
“We’ve learned through the process that quick cycle data reviews can impact small changes to interventions that make a BIG impact for students.”
~ Team Member, Grand Island Public Schools (NE)
“I saw the difference... When we jumped into this fluency program, it was interesting to see when you put the time, thinking power, and effort into it, you can see the growth and progress that students have made.”
~ Team Member, Dallas Independent School District (TX)
“During BTR, I've witnessed incredible growth in my Pre-K students since we implemented this reading program. The program’s strategic approach has made a huge difference. Working intimately with students allowed my students to build confidence. It’s been truly rewarding to see such meaningful progress at such a foundational stage. I’m excited to take this approach that I learned this year and implement next year from the beginning of the school year.”
~ Team Member, East Baton Rouge Parish School System (LA)
“This deep dive into Greek and Latin root words through Breakthrough has been so worth it. It’s been amazing to watch my students' knowledge grow—and even better hearing them start to notice root words in everyday life or while we're reading together. That kind of lightbulb moment makes all the review and repetition feel meaningful.”
~ Team Member, Birmingham City Schools (AL)
Ready to Partner?
Please reach out to Shannah Varón to explore how DMG can partner with your district or ESU.
svaron@dmgroupK12.com 617-453-2580
Other Ways District Management Group Can Support Your District or ESU
District Management Group stands out as a results-driven partner with over 20 years of experience helping schools turn evidence-based literacy theory into measurable achievement. Unlike traditional professional development or curriculum implementation providers, we embed performance coaching, professional learning, and data systems into the daily work of educators and instructional teams, aligning tightly to the Science of Reading, MTSS frameworks, and district-adopted HQIMs. Our team combines deep implementation expertise with proven impact across urban, suburban, and rural districts nationwide, including several Nebraska systems.
Prioritizing Resources and Initiatives for Strategic Management (PRISM)
PRISM is a DMGroup’s comprehensive service that equips districts with the tools and processes to make smart, financially responsible decisions that maximize impact for students. Learn more
Elementary School Scheduling Support
DMSchedules software and services help school administrators create effective strategic elementary schedules based on scheduling best practices in a fraction of the time. Learn more
Special Education Opportunity Review
We conduct an in-depth qualitative and quantitative analysis to compare your practices with those of similar districts and established best practices and help you identify high-impact opportunities to raise student achievement, set priorities, and drive improvement. Learn more
DMCouncil Membership
DMCouncil, a professional learning community for superintendents and district leaders, was founded out of a recognition that district leaders need a community that will help them stay at the forefront of best practices and new ideas, help support and develop leadership and management skills, and provide a cohort of peers with whom to share ideas and experiences. Learn more
Professional Development for District and School Leaders
Develop skills that last through cohort-based coursework and coaching.
• Secondary Scheduling Institute
• Academic-ROI Institute
• Leadership Council for K-12 School Finance Officers
• Special Education Leadership Council
Learn more
