Bridging the Gap: How Madill Built Strong Home-School Partnerships with Waterford
Madill Public Schools in southern Oklahoma raised kindergarten reading proficiency from 43% to 97% after launching Waterford Early Learning in PreK. The district paired 15 minutes of daily use with teacher coaching and hands-on family engagement.
At a glance
- 43% → 97% of kindergartners at or above grade level in reading
- 4 of 148 kindergartners identified for intensive reading support, a historic low
- ~1,750 PreK–12 students across three buildings; 75% free or reduced lunch
The Challenge: Skill Gaps, Screen-Time Concerns, and Home Connection
Post-pandemic disruptions left many incoming PreK students behind in language and numeracy skills. Teachers and parents were also wary of yet another technology tool. District leaders needed a way to close readiness gaps and strengthen school-home connections without adding complexity or screen time.
The Solution: A Three-Part Plan for Kindergarten Reading Proficiency
The Madill Early Childhood Center, led by Principal and Federal Programs Director Elissa Cox, implemented Waterford Early Learning in PreK with three priorities:
- Short, purposeful daily routines. Each PreK classroom uses Waterford for a focused 15 minutes a day.
- Professional learning. A Waterford consultant visited classrooms, introduced new features, and showed teachers how to use student data to form small groups.
- Proactive family engagement. Hands-on Family Literacy Nights and the Waterford Family App gave parents visibility into their child’s progress and ways to support learning at home.
The Results
Under Oklahoma’s Strong Readers Act benchmarking, kindergarten reading proficiency rose from 43% when Madill launched Waterford in April 2022 to 97%. Students needing intensive reading support dropped to 4 out of 148.
“Only 4 out of 148 kids in kindergarten are struggling. PreK is doing their job! We have never been in the single digits! And 2 out of the 4 weren’t in our district last year.”
Elissa Cox, Principal, Madill Early Childhood Center
Parents embraced the program once they saw real skill growth, and home learning became an extension of the classroom. Madill’s results match Waterford research showing PreK users scoring higher in kindergarten literacy, along with the findings of a 38-study meta-analysis.
Advice for Education Leaders
“Waterford works. Yes, it may take time,” says Principal Cox. “We are going to have some really strong readers. Give it a try.” Her advice:
- Invest in ongoing professional learning, including job-embedded coaching, to keep implementation strong over time.
- Engage families with hands-on workshops, and send materials home when parents can’t attend.
- Focus on continuous improvement. Fit the program into the schedule, use data to drive instruction, and build each year.
Discover What’s Possible in Your District
Request a demo to see how Waterford can strengthen kindergarten reading proficiency and family engagement in your district.