In Catholic education, literacy is more than an academic skill; it is a sacred beginning. Reading provides children their first access to scripture, prayer, and theological understanding, fulfilling the Church’s call to love God with one’s whole mind and embodying the Catechism’s teaching that “faith seeks understanding” (CCC, 158). This sacred mission is reflected in the Diocese of Brooklyn’s recent pilot of Sadlier’s From Phonics to Reading™ (FPR), a supplemental foundational skills K–3 program, authored by literacy expert Dr. Wiley Blevins and grounded in the Science of Reading. A two-year efficacy study by Johns Hopkins University showed that students using FPR made greater reading gains, while teachers noted stronger routines and more engaged, confident learners.
Literacy has always held a privileged place in the mission of Catholic education. It is the foundation upon which children learn to think, pray, discern, and ultimately encounter the Word of God. At a time when the nation faces persistent concerns about declining reading achievement, Catholic schools can renew their commitment to evidence-based literacy instruction to raise academic outcomes and fulfill their sacred duty to form the whole person.
Across the Diocese of Brooklyn, that commitment is coming to life. FPR is helping young learners build strong foundational skills through research-aligned, systematic instruction. A rigorous two-year efficacy study from Johns Hopkins University, Efficacy Study of Sadlier’s From Phonics to Reading Program in Brooklyn Diocese Schools (NY): A Two-Year Study, offers a compelling example of how Catholic schools can unite faith, reason, and the Science of Reading to strengthen student achievement and discipleship.
The FPR program, published by Sadlier, was introduced in select Brooklyn Diocese schools as a supplemental foundational skills program. The efficacy study examined six participating schools and four comparison schools, tracking students’ growth in K–3 with i-Ready Reading assessment and surveying teachers on instruction and engagement.
Students using FPR outperformed peers by 7.5 points, with strong gains for kindergarteners, Black students, English language learners, and high-achieving students. Teachers reported improvements across reading skills, increased effort, and higher engagement, praising the program’s engaging activities and consistent routines. The results meet ESSA Tier 3 (“Promising”) evidence standards.
The Church’s history affirms the sacred duty of teaching reading. Monastic communities preserved written language; missionaries taught literacy to share the gospel, and Catholic schools have long been havens of learning for immigrant and marginalized families.
The Second Vatican Council’s declaration Gravissimum Educationis (1965) reaffirmed that education must form “the whole human person in the pursuit of his ultimate end.” Literacy is foundational to that formation, giving children access to truth, justice, and beauty, enabling them to view history and current events through a Catholic lens.
Catholic education preserves the tradition of sharing the gospel, serving others, and loving God. By embracing evidence-based instruction, dioceses like Brooklyn continue this mission, bringing together fidelity and tradition with the best of contemporary research.
“This program has proven itself to be successful in forming young readers with the foundational skills necessary to succeed in the early years of their literacy journey. As a result of their use of From Phonics to Reading, our students are well-equipped for success in reading, which will allow them to explore great works of literature, as well as Sacred Scripture, leading them to be true disciples of Jesus Christ.”
John O’BrienAssociate Superintendent, Diocese of Brooklyn
In Catholic schools, literacy is more than a metric. Literacy opens the world of faith to students. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “Faith seeks understanding” (CCC, 158). When children learn to read fluently, they gain access not only to stories and knowledge, but also to scripture, prayer, and theological reflection.
Strong literacy instruction ensures that students can encounter the Word of God for themselves, developing a personal and reasoned faith. It also fosters confidence, curiosity, and compassion, traits that prepare young Catholics to serve and lead.
The Catholic intellectual tradition, especially in the work of St. Thomas Aquinas, views the pursuit of knowledge as a path to God. For him, the human intellect’s search for truth mirrors the divine intellect from which truth flows. Systematic instruction reflects the Thomistic principle of ordered learning—from simple to complex, from sense to understanding.
Aquinas also reminds us that “grace does not destroy nature, but perfects it” (Summa Theologiae, I, Q.1, a.8). Literacy instruction cultivates the natural capacities of reason and understanding that prepare a child’s heart for grace.
The success of Brooklyn’s phonics initiative is a witness to this integration of faith and reason. When Catholic school educators implement programs grounded in cognitive science and spiritual purpose, they model how to love God with “all your mind” (Luke 10:27). Catholic schools encourage and promote professional development for their educators to unlock academic and spiritual growth in their students.
Children who learn to read fluently can also pray more deeply, reflect more fully, and participate more actively in the Church’s sacramental and communal life. Literacy opens the door for children to live a life of faith and intellect within the community of the Church. Saint Luke, guiding Christians to love God with all their mind, reflects that God values intellectual practices as a way to share knowledge of him.
Strong literacy instruction, then, is a form of evangelization. It equips every student to encounter God’s Word with confidence and joy.
The Johns Hopkins study of FPR in the Diocese of Brooklyn offers evidence of effectiveness, and it also reflects the sacred potential of literacy. To teach a child to read is to affirm their dignity as one made in the image of God: rational, curious, and capable of knowing truth. By pairing rigorous instruction with a mission of faith formation, Catholic schools form not only successful readers, but also young disciples prepared to read the world, the Word, and the wonders of God’s creation.
As St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us, “wonder is the desire of knowledge.” Through literacy, Catholic school educators open minds and hearts, fostering curiosity, understanding, and a deeper encounter with God. Strong reading instruction is an invitation to wonder, to faith, and to lifelong learning, and the young readers in the Diocese of Brooklyn are starting strong.
Literacy is Mission-CriticalStrong reading instruction is essential to Catholic identity, enabling students to encounter the Word of God and live their faith with understanding. Teaching literacy is an act of evangelization and formation.
Evidence-Based Instruction Strengthens Faith and LearningStructured, phonics-based instruction helps children of all backgrounds build foundational reading skills. Using studies and structured programs, Catholic school educators strengthen students’ academic ability and faith formation.
Teacher Formation Multiplies ImpactOngoing professional learning in literacy empowers teachers to serve both academic and spiritual growth.
Faith and Reason Work TogetherEvidence-based literacy instruction forms the intellect so that faith may take deeper root. When Catholic schools commit to rigorous reading instruction, they honor their dual mission: forming strong readers and faithful disciples.
Leadership MattersCatholic school leaders can sustain this momentum by supporting teacher training in the Science of Reading and integrating literacy goals into strategic mission plans.
Inés Pezois a marketing director at Sadlier Religion.ipezo@sadlier.com
and Sadlier are registered trademarks of William H. Sadlier, Inc. From Phonics to Reading™ is a trademark of William H. Sadlier, Inc.
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