Hays CISD is streamlining its literacy curriculum for elementary students in an effort to improve their reading and writing skills before they reach the third grade.

By setting aside 30 minutes a day with a new phonics program, Hays CISD hopes teachers can instill the reading and writing skills elementary students need to improve in their classes and score well on state standardized tests.

The district also hired three full-time district literacy specialists to help students and teachers reach t...