In 2020–2021, Villa Park School District set out to adopt a new English Language Arts curriculum, engaging teachers in a rigorous materials review and pilot process. Their goal? To find high-quality, research-based resources that would support their bilingual program and foster a love of reading in all students. Using the Instructional Materials Evaluation Tool (IMET) and a district-designed rubric aligned to culturally sustaining practices and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), the district selected ARC Core® for grades K–5.  

The results speak for themselves. When Villa Park first implemented ARC Core in 2021–2022, just 25% of students were reading on or above grade level. By the end of year three, that number had surged to 53%. The impact on the bilingual program was equally impressive—proficiency in Spanish increased from 9% to 36% over the same period.  

The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) further highlights these gains. Third-grade proficiency grew from 18% to 36%, fourth grade from 26% to 40%, and fifth grade from 31% to 46%—a remarkable 14–18 percentage-point increase per grade level.  

What fueled this success? Villa Park took a strategic, teacher-driven approach:  

• Teacher-Led Selection: Educators played a central role in choosing a curriculum aligned with district goals.  

• Ongoing Coaching: The district invested in ARC's job-embedded professional learning. 

• Aligned Systems: School improvement plans were revised for consistency and accountability.  

• Data-Driven Decisions: Educators used data to inform instruction and drive student growth.  

Villa Park’s literacy success proves that districts can achieve extraordinary results by adopting a curriculum aligned with the Science of Reading and ensuring the right support is in place.  

 Read the full district profile to take a deeper dive into their success.