New literacy pack aims to boost reading skills for students across California
California Department of Education stated that this would be a comprehensive suite of resources designed to improve literacy instruction and support educators across the state in improving student outcomes, especially for younger readers.
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'In California, we know that learning to read is the start of the pathway to success. The Literacy Roadmap highlights our multifaceted approach to improving literacy for California's students, including current and proposed initiatives,' Governor Newsom said. 'When added to our other investments in literacy coaches and reading specialists at high-needs schools and professional development for teachers, we are doubling down on our commitment to ensure no student falls behind in their reading.'
The new Professional Learning Pack includes two crucial literacy guidance documents, CDE stated. The first is set to be the California Literacy Roadmap's Literacy Content Blocks for English-Medium Classrooms, which is focused on transitional Kindergarten through Grade Five.
The roadmap provides instructional recommendations that educators can use to support students as they develop across all areas of literacy and bitliteracy, according to Newsom. The blocks will reflect an intentional approach to literacy that will promote sequenced initial instruction, appropriate practice and reinforcement, intervention as necessary, and meaningful application in English language arts.
'Literacy is foundational to lifelong learning and academic success,' said Superintendent Thurmond. 'With this release, California takes a significant step forward in providing educators with the tools they need to foster strong literacy and biliteracy development from the earliest years of learning as we move the needle on student achievement, particularly for our youngest readers.'
The second document is Preschool through Third Grade Learning Progressions for Language and Literacy Development, which will outline key developmental milestones and offer examples of play-based, inquiry-based instruction to support early literacy in both English and students' home languages, according to CDE.
'In California, we're focused on an approach to literacy that supports evidence-based instruction and high-quality professional learning,' said State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond. 'The Literacy Roadmap and the Literacy Learning Progressions provide teachers with key resources and tools they can use to support every child in learning to read with comprehension, write with expression, and explore the world of books with excitement.'
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CDE said that these professional learning tools have been endorsed by a board coalition of experts in literacy and biliteracy instruction, which includes The Reading League, the California Association for Bilingual Education, and Californians Together.
Educators are encouraged to incorporate the materials into their summer and school-year professional development plans, said CDE. The full Professional Learning Pack can be found here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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