logo
New literacy pack aims to boost reading skills for students across California

New literacy pack aims to boost reading skills for students across California

Yahoo31-05-2025
(FOX40.COM) — State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Tuesday the release of the California Literacy-Biliteracy Professional Learning Pack.
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.
Defense Intelligence Agency IT Specialist arrested for allegedly sharing classified information
'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.'
Over $120M in banned cannabis seized by CA task force
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.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Federal education funding to be released, offering relief to Florida schools
Federal education funding to be released, offering relief to Florida schools

Miami Herald

timean hour ago

  • Miami Herald

Federal education funding to be released, offering relief to Florida schools

Close to $400 million in federal grants promised to Florida school districts will be released by the Trump administration, according to reports. As of yesterday, the $35 million in funds promised to Miami-Dade County Public Schools remained frozen. Earlier this month, the figure was $10 million higher, but some funds were released for after-school programs. In Broward, at least $30 million in funds were promised to the school district and then frozen. Nationwide, more than $5 billion in public school funding had been placed on hold. The freeze began June 30, just one day before the grants were expected to arrive. The White House Office of Management and Budget has been reviewing the funds to determine whether they were being used to support a 'radical leftwing agenda.' 'It is incredible, encouraging news that we do not have to hold back on certain areas,' said Miami-Dade Superintendent Jose L. Dotres. 'It will allow us to continue improving the trajectory of the school district and the services we provide to our community.' Dotres had been lobbying lawmakers in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., to release the funding for the past few weeks, and had already started making cuts for the upcoming year, such as cutting purchases on textbook, supplies, and delaying certain teacher training programs. Now, the district will be able to proceed as usual. In Miami-Dade, the grants fund programs such as English language learning, science and technology innovation, teacher training, migrant education and adult education. John J. Sullivan, chief communications officer for Broward schools, said he is grateful the funds will soon be released. 'These critical resources allow us to continue providing essential services and supports for our students, families, and schools,' said Sullivan. Ron Steiger, the Miami-Dade school district's chief financial officer, said he received multiple texts with links to news articles announcing the release of funds. Though he has not yet received formal notice from the U.S. Department of Education, he said he was relieved. 'Nothing actually ended up harming anything,' he said, adding that he believed this outcome was the most likely all along. Two lawsuits related to the funding freeze are still active. One, brought by 24 states and the District of Columbia, asked a federal judge in Rhode Island to order the release of the funds. Florida was not a party to that suit. A second case was filed by a coalition of organizations—including the Florida Parent Teacher Association and P.S. 305, a Miami education advocacy group—in the same court. On Wednesday, a judge agreed to consider the two cases together. A hearing for emergency relief is scheduled for Aug. 13. Despite the administration's announcement, Florida PTA President-elect Jude Bruno said the legal challenge remains necessary. 'The harm still exists until school districts actually receive the funds or, at the very least, are issued award and grant issuance letters with clear timelines for when to expect them,' Bruno said in a text message to the Miami Herald. Mina Hosseini, executive director of P.S. 305 agreed that this is not the end of what she says is a school 'system chronically starved of resources.' 'The future of public education cannot be left vulnerable to political whims—it must be protected by the people,' she told the Miami Herald. An administrative assistant for Mari Tere Rojas, the chair of the Miami-Dade school board, said in a statement, 'These programs, which enjoy bipartisan support, are vital for the operation and functioning of our local public schools for this upcoming school year.' Ray Hart, executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools, a coalition of school districts, said in a statement that he is 'relieved' the Education Department has released the remainder of the funds authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 'for the benefit of schoolchildren throughout our nation.' School board member Steve Gallon also welcomed the news—but issued a warning. He expressed frustration that some elected leaders had remained silent 'in the face of what could potentially devastate the learning and lives of children and families… Seemingly shackled by fear and partisanship,' he said in a text message. 'I am concerned that this is not the end,' he added.

Trump admin will give billions in remaining withheld grants to schools
Trump admin will give billions in remaining withheld grants to schools

New York Post

time2 hours ago

  • New York Post

Trump admin will give billions in remaining withheld grants to schools

The Trump administration is releasing billions of dollars in grants to schools for adult literacy, English language instruction and other programs, the Education Department said Friday. President Donald Trump's administration had withheld more than $6 billion in funding on July 1, as part of a review to ensure spending aligned with the White House's priorities. The funding freeze had been challenged by several lawsuits as educators, Congress members from both parties and others called for the administration to release money schools rely on for a wide range of programs. Congress had appropriated the money in a bill signed this year by Trump. Advertisement 4 According to the Education Department, the Trump administration is releasing billions of dollars in grants to schools. AP 4 Education Secretary Linda McMahon speaks during a Senate Appropriations hearing on June 3, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. AP Last week, the Education Department said it would release $1.3 billion of the money for after-school and summer programming. Without the money, school districts and nonprofits such as the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club of America had said they would have to close or scale back educational offerings this fall. The release of that money came days after 10 Republican senators sent a letter imploring the administration to allow frozen education money to be sent to states. Those senators had also called for the rest of the money to be distributed, including funds for adult education and teaching English as a second language. Advertisement The Education Department said Friday the Office of Management and Budget had completed its review of the programs and will begin sending the money to states next week. 4 The release of that money comes after 10 Republican senators sent a letter asking the administration to allow frozen education money to be sent to states. AP 4 The grants will go to schools for adult literacy, English language instruction and other programs. AP Advertisement U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, was among the Congress members calling for the release of the grants. 'The programs are ones that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support,' she said. She pointed to after-school and summer programs that allow parents to work while their children learn and classes that help adults gain new skills — contributing to local economies. In withholding the funds, the Office of Management and Budget had said some of the programs supported a ' radical leftwing agenda. ' Advertisement 'We share your concern,' the GOP senators had written. 'However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds.' School superintendents had warned they would have to eliminate academic services without the money. On Friday, AASA, an association of superintendents, thanked members of Congress for pressing to release the money.

Education Department says it will release billions in remaining withheld grant money for schools
Education Department says it will release billions in remaining withheld grant money for schools

Chicago Tribune

time3 hours ago

  • Chicago Tribune

Education Department says it will release billions in remaining withheld grant money for schools

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is releasing billions of dollars in grants to schools for adult literacy, English language instruction and other programs, the Education Department said Friday. President Donald Trump's administration had withheld more than $6 billion in funding on July 1, as part of a review to ensure spending aligned with the White House's priorities. The funding freeze had been challenged by several lawsuits as educators, Congress members from both parties and others called for the administration to release money schools rely on for a wide range of programs. Congress had appropriated the money in a bill signed this year by Trump. Last week, the Education Department said it would release $1.3 billion of the money for after-school and summer programming. Without the money, school districts and nonprofits such as the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club of America had said they would have to close or scale back educational offerings this fall. The release of that money came days after 10 Republican senators sent a letter imploring the administration to allow frozen education money to be sent to states. Those senators had also called for the rest of the money to be distributed, including funds for adult education and teaching English as a second language. The Education Department said Friday the Office of Management and Budget had completed its review of the programs and will begin sending the money to states next week. U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, was among the Congress members calling for the release of the grants. 'The programs are ones that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support,' she said. She pointed to after-school and summer programs that allow parents to work while their children learn and classes that help adults gain new skills — contributing to local economies. In withholding the funds, the Office of Management and Budget had said some of the programs supported a 'radical leftwing agenda.' 'We share your concern,' the GOP senators had written. 'However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds.' School superintendents had warned they would have to eliminate academic services without the money. On Friday, AASA, an association of superintendents, thanked members of Congress for pressing to release the money. In Harford County, Maryland, some of the withheld federal money made up more than half the budget for the district's annual summer camp for kids learning English. The money helps the district hire certified teachers to staff the camp, incorporating learning into children's play for four weeks during the summer. The program helps kids keep their English and academic momentum over the summer. The district serves roughly 1,100 students who are non-native English speakers. Many of them are born in the U.S. to parents who came to the area seeking job opportunities, often in the restaurants and warehouses that have popped up in the past decades in the region northeast of Baltimore. During the school year, the soon-to-be-released federal money pays for tutors for kids learning English. On Thursday, more than 350 children filled the second floor of Bel Air High School for the second-to-last day of summer camp. Young learners crowded around an alphabet wheel, jostling with each other to push each letter button as they thought of foods starting with letters from A to Z. Middle school students watched a robotics team demonstration, and a few sheepishly raised their hands when asked if they would be interested in joining. High school student volunteers, some of whom had been campers learning English themselves not many years ago, helped the youngest children with art projects.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store