Javier Montañez is drawing on his own difficult school years in Providence as he leads an effort to improve literacy in the district he once attended.

Undiagnosed dyslexia made reading difficult for Montañez, until a drama teacher tutored him twice a day in decoding and writing; after learning he was homeless, he dropped out, then later pursued a GED when he learned he would become a father and needed the credential to enlist in the military.

At 18, Montañez pursued his GED and went on to earn an associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in under three and a half years before becoming an educator and advancing to superintendent in 2021 and 2022.

The reform effort began after Rhode Island took control of Providence schools in 2019, following a report that described weak leadership, a broken school culture and poor-quality instruction.

Under a five-year turnaround plan, the district adopted an Instructional Coherence Model to align reading curricula, teaching, assessment, coaching and intervention across schools.

The district has also introduced shared science-of-reading materials and phonics training, strengthened screening for reading difficulties including dyslexia, improved data systems, and added regular classroom walk-throughs with feedback within 24 hours and professional development tailored to educators’ roles.

Those efforts are showing signs of progress: third-grade reading proficiency has risen each year since 2021, reaching 24% in 2024–25 and nearing pre-pandemic levels.

Asa Messer Elementary and Leviton Dual Language School stand out, with 41% to 45% of third graders reading at grade level despite poverty rates above 80% and expected proficiency of 17% to 19%; 10 other Providence schools also exceed expected literacy rates.

Monta​​ñez and his team cite high-dosage tutoring, bilingual education and stable leadership as factors in stronger-performing schools, and aim to extend effective practices while maintaining high expectations for all students.

The district’s Office of Family and Community Engagement provides a family learning program, translation and help accessing food and transportation, as well as support for families moving into the district.

District leaders stress that the gains are still early and depend on consistent implementation, learning from stronger-performing schools and adjusting what is not working.

Rhode Island returned Providence schools to local control in July, about a year and a half ahead of schedule, while Montañez’s contract is due for renewal in 2027.