The Lowcountry Literacy Project (LLP) has released new data highlighting the measurable impact of Orton-Gillingham (OG) instruction in Charleston County School District targeted classrooms showing that when teachers are equipped with structured, evidence based literacy tools, students thrive.
Public school educator training in the Orton-Gillingham approach first began in Charleston in 2021, laying the groundwork for what would become the Lowcountry Literacy Project. The Riley Center for Livable Communities at the College of Charleston has evaluated two consecutive years of student data at James B. Edwards and Jennie Moore Elementary Schools. The findings reveal continued acceleration in reading growth among students in OG classrooms. The data show that:
OG-trained classrooms outpaced non-OG classrooms in literacy growth for the second consecutive year.
Achievement gaps are closing at historic rates—the literacy gap between Black and White students decreased by 42%, Hispanic and White students by 40%, and Multilingual Learners and White students by 38%.
Among third graders receiving OG as an intervention, the number of students performing at or above grade level more than doubled in one school year, from 32% to 70%.
“These results reaffirm what we’ve seen firsthand: when we strengthen core classroom instruction, we change trajectories for kids,” said Lindsey Ballenger, Executive Director of the Lowcountry Literacy Project. “For too long, approaches like Orton-Gillingham were only available to families who could privately afford them. Today, Charleston educators are proving what’s possible when every child—regardless of zip code—has access to instruction that works.”
The 2025 Data Report underscores the power of aligning Tier 1 (core) instruction and Tier 2/3 intervention within the same research-based framework. Rather than layering disconnected programs, the Lowcountry Literacy Project’s model trains and coaches teachers to deliver high quality, multisensory reading instruction for all learners using the same language, same approach, and same expectations across every tier of student support.
Recent funding partnerships with Charleston County School District, The Boeing Company, The Children’s Fund of South Carolina and First Citizens Bank have made this expansion possible, bringing the Lowcountry Literacy Project’s reach to five Charleston County schools and more than 100 trained educators to date.
“Orton-Gillingham training has made a huge impact on my role as an instructional coach at Ladson Elementary,” said Dr. Kellina Logan. “Although I just recently started this journey, the long-term benefits for our school community are incredible. By sharing the knowledge and tools I’ve gained through this training with our educators, we’re building stronger foundational skills for our young learners and helping more students experience success in literacy.”
Ballenger added, “This movement is about more than an initative—it’s about access and opportunity. Every child deserves the chance to read, and our teachers are leading the way toward a more literate Lowcountry.”
The full 2025 Data Report is available on the Lowcountry Literacy Project’s website here: https://