Learn about LtL
This page provides information about our team and our strategic framework for improving secondary literacy systems in California.
LtL Counties
The Lead to Literacy initiative is a statewide effort to transform secondary literacy by building a connected, collaborative network of leaders, educators, and communities.
Designed as a tiered system of leadership and support, LTL ensures that effective literacy practices reach every level of California’s education system, from state guidance to county offices, districts, schools, classrooms, and families.
At the center of this structure is a team of Lead COEs, with Napa as the lead agency, joined by Butte, Riverside, Siskiyou, and Tulare, that collaborate to guide the work statewide.
Supporting this leadership is a network of Partner COEs, which act as the bridge between state priorities and local action.
Secondary Systems
Literacy achievement requires clear, consistent conversations about current student outcomes. Thoughtful analysis and discussion of literacy data should be a routine, expected part of school culture.
Valid and reliable literacy screening and progress-monitoring measures are used consistently, directly informing instructional planning across content areas. Screening and progress monitoring occur at defined intervals, with more frequent monitoring for students performing below grade level.
All students receive high-quality, standards-aligned Universal literacy instruction grounded in evidence-based practices. Differentiation is embedded within core instruction to ensure access, engagement, and growth for every learner.
Ongoing professional learning is embedded within the school’s comprehensive approach to improving literacy outcomes. Professional development and coaching deepen educator knowledge of evidence-based literacy practices and support implementation in classrooms.
A continuum of literacy support ensures all students receive instruction matched to their needs - from enrichment for students at or above grade level to targeted and intensive support for students with identified skill gaps. Supports are structured, evidence-based, and adjusted based on ongoing progress monitoring.
Families and community partners are actively engaged in supporting students’ literacy growth. The school fosters meaningful collaboration with families and community organizations to strengthen literacy development and overall student success.
A literacy leadership team composed of teachers and administrators guides the integration of essential literacy practices across school systems, leading efforts to strengthen reading and writing instruction and coordinate professional learning.
Framework
The Lead to Literacy framework is a four-year, statewide model for strengthening secondary literacy through coordinated, evidence-based systemic improvement. Its mission is to build equitable literacy systems so every secondary student can thrive.
Across all stages, implementation is supported by four interconnected routines: leadership cycles, coaching and calibration, evidence sprints, and family partnerships. The work is grounded in research on reading and writing—including Scarborough’s Reading Rope and the Writing Rope—and applies literacy development across mathematics, science, English, and history.
The initiative uses a cascading system of leadership, professional learning, evaluation, and sustainability planning across California.
