Project Leap

Project Leap is the title encompassing three regular education Early Literacy Intervention Programs serving kindergarten and first grade students in Naperville District #203.  The State Board of Education lists Project Leap as an Early Intervention Model Site. Second Grade Leap in District 203, is under the Project Leap umbrella. It is the Title I program for second graders in Title I eligible schools.

History of Project Leap

Project Leap was initially developed to address the literacy needs of First Grade students who did not qualify for special education services or long-term reading support. It began at one elementary building in 1988 with Dr. Roberta Buhle working collaboratively with Dr. Darrell Morris from Appalachian State University. The following year it was field-tested in three schools and then expanded in 1990-91 to include all fourteen elementary schools.

In the spring of 1996 the district contracted with Dr. Robert Slavin of John Hopkins University and Dr. Rebecca Barr of National Louis University to evaluate the Project Leap program. In addition to praising the program for its effectiveness, well-trained paraprofessionals, data collection and exceptional program refinement, the Barr and Slavin report recommended the district consider ways to service students in need of literacy support earlier in their school career.

K-Leap, an early intervention program for eligible kindergartners, was developed in response to that recommendation during the 1996-97 school year.

In 1999, the SAIL (Summer Activities in Literacy) program was initiated as part of regular education summer school for a select group of kindergarten students who, based on referral and May screening information, appeared to need extra support to acquire literacy skills.

In 2001, Naperville District 203 was notified it would receive a Title I federal grant under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The premise of the No Child Left Behind legislation is to provide dollars for local school districts to improve the basic programs in existence in order to improve the academic achievement of all students. Second Grade Leap was developed and continues to be funded using the dollars from this federal grant. The second grade program is based on the research of Dr. Darrell Morris and is an extension of Project Leap at the Title I eligible schools.

Insights on Early Intervention from District 203 Superintendent, Dr. Alan Leis

Definition of Reading

Home Reading Support for Literacy Growth - Questions Parents Ask

Questions of a general nature concerning the district Project Leap program may be directed to one of the program coordinators at the district Project Leap office (420-4058).

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