Mahopac Central School District rolled out the Fundations program across all universal pre-K through second grade classrooms, strengthening the district’s alignment with the New York State English Language Arts Learning Standards. Fundations is a Science of Reading-based, multisensory structured literacy program that equips teachers with tools to deliver systematic, cumulative and explicit instruction in foundational reading and writing skills. In daily 30- to 35-minute lessons, students engage in activities that integrate phonics, spelling and handwriting practice while reinforcing vocabulary, comprehension and writing goals.
“Fundations makes learning accessible for our students because it’s active, fun and hands-on,” Austin Road Elementary School teacher Megan Wisotsky said. “They don’t realize how much they’re learning because they’re so engaged. It builds confidence early on and sets them up for success.”
The program emphasizes active engagement, differentiation and student development, ensuring that all students, regardless of their learning style, benefit from clear, consistent instruction. By introducing literacy skills in a systematic way, teachers can better support individual student growth and close gaps before they widen.
“The power of Fundations is that skills are not taught in isolation,” Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Matthew Lawrence said. “Each day builds on the concepts from the previous lesson and reinforces multiple areas of literacy, giving students a strong, interconnected foundation for future learning.”
Fundations also complements Mahopac’s broader commitment to building strong literacy skills from the earliest grades. With its proven effectiveness and robust research base, the program helps set students on a path to success as readers, writers and lifelong learners.
