CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (June 31, 2025) — The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) has approved RedThread Literacy, developed by K12 Coalition’s Lavinia Group, for the state’s High-Quality Curricular Materials (HQCM) advisory list. RedThread Foundations (K-5) and RedThread Knowledge (K-8) are recommended for Core Reading, making it one of the few literacy programs recognized for both elementary and middle school.
RedThread is a K-8 literacy curriculum, grounded in the science of reading, that integrates knowledge-building, structured phonics, writing and multicultural literature into a unified, research-based program. Its two components — RedThread Foundations (K-5 phonics and fluency) and RedThread Knowledge (K-8 core reading and writing) — work together to build foundational literacy and deepen comprehension. RedThread Knowledge incorporates project-based instruction that helps students connect ideas, think critically and apply their learning in meaningful ways. Across both components, clear guidance and embedded support help teachers accelerate growth and set students up for long-term academic success.
“This approval confirms what we’ve seen in classrooms across Indiana and the country — RedThread works,” said Jackie Taslim, co-president of School Solutions at K12 Coalition. “It’s a program built to raise achievement, support teachers and deliver real, lasting results.”
RedThread served as the core ELA curriculum within the Lavinia RISE Summer Learning Program, which was adopted by IDOE in 2024 as the instructional model for Indiana’s Summer Learning Labs. Funded by the state’s Student Learning Recovery Grant, the program reached nearly 9,000 incoming first through ninth grade students at 91 sites across five regions.
Used daily across all sites, RedThread drove consistent academic gains. Students posted an average 26 percentage point increase in reading proficiency over 20 days of summer instruction. The program delivered strong results across student groups:
- Black students closed critical reading gaps, gaining 25 percentage points.
- Latino learners made some of the largest strides, with a 28-point increase.
- Students from low-income households improved by 26 percentage points.
- English Learners grew 21 percentage points in reading proficiency.
“We’ve built something bigger than summer learning,” said Taslim. “RedThread helps Indiana schools close gaps and boost reading outcomes — whether it’s in the summer or the school year.”
RedThread’s structured phonics instruction, vocabulary development, and text-based writing routines give educators clear, repeatable strategies to accelerate grade-level learning — all built for classrooms that don’t have time to waste. Its practical design and coaching support align with Indiana’s push to strengthen early literacy outcomes and meet the day-to-day needs of teachers.
Plan your adoption: As districts plan for 2025-26 and work to improve IREAD proficiency scores, schools are encouraged to adopt an IDOE-approved core reading program. Now on Indiana’s HQCM list for K-8, RedThread is available to support educators with a comprehensive, science of reading-aligned solution that’s already driving results across the state.
About RedThread Literacy
RedThread by K12 Coalition is the only complete K-8 literacy program that fully integrates Science of Reading research with culturally responsive, project-based learning. It’s built to engage students, support teachers and accelerate literacy growth — all in one cohesive, classroom-ready system. RedThread connects the threads of learning through thematically linked units, diverse literature, and hands-on projects that help students see themselves in what they read and write. From foundational phonics in K-2 to deep text analysis and writing in middle school, every piece is designed to build knowledge, confidence and real literacy skills. Teachers get everything they need: scripted lessons, booklists, decodables, writing exemplars and daily plans, all backed by coaching that’s practical, immersive and designed to build capacity fast. Learn more at k12coalition.com/redthread-knowledge-literacy-program/.
Media Contact:
Monica McShaffrey
PR & Communications Manager, K12 Coalition
press@k12coalition.com
Want to see your release on the EWA site? Promote it with EWA.