The Washington School District has been recognized as having one of the highest growth rates in early literacy in the state. Washington School District Curriculum Director Veta Thode tells KCII News that staff with the Iowa Department of Education reached out to learn more about Washington’s Teacher Leadership and Compensation (TLC) program in the district. Lora Rasey with the Iowa Department of Education stated Washington has been identified as one of the state’s highest improving districts in early literacy as indicated by the kindergarten through third grade FAST data from 2015 to 2019. FAST is an assessment used to gauge students’ levels and improvement in early grades. Rasey said the TLC team ad the Department would like to look closer out how the TLC program is benefitting students and staff in Washington to help with literacy rates.