Lead to Literacy (LtL) is a statewide initiative to build strong secondary literacy systems across counties and districts. Funded through the CLSD grant and running 2025 through 2029, it connects five Lead County Offices of Education with ten Partner COEs organized into three regions, ultimately supporting LEAs in improving adolescent literacy outcomes across California.LtL is not a curriculum or program. It provides a structure for organizing literacy work through shared tools, routines, and planning processes so that instruction, assessment, and intervention work together as a system.

LtL does not require districts to adopt a specific curriculum, program, or vendor. Districts continue to select materials and instructional approaches that fit their context. LtL provides a system and set of tools to help districts decide what to focus on, when to focus on it, and how to support implementation through leadership and consulting routines.

LtL supports instructional improvement by strengthening the leadership, consulting, and planning systems that make effective practice sustainable. It integrates instructional content, leadership routines, consulting structures, data use, and planning tools into a coherent framework. This helps districts avoid fragmented efforts and build consistency across schools and years.The initiative also operates as a connected network. Lead COEs design and model the work, Partner COEs extend it locally, and LEAs implement it with ongoing support. That structure distinguishes LtL from standalone professional development or curriculum adoption efforts.

The Lead to Literacy Secondary Literacy Systems Framework was informed by the LETRS for Administrators Literacy Framework. We used those broad system areas as a starting point and developed the framework for an adolescent literacy context, including literacy across content areas, a continuum of support, professional learning, and family and community engagement.The domains reflect key elements of a strong, schoolwide literacy system. CLSD Priority 2 and Priority 3 projects are using this framework as a shared foundation for systems-level literacy work across K–12, with each priority applying the domains within its specific grade span and context.

Lead to Literacy (LtL) is intentionally designed to align with and complement California’s broader literacy ecosystem. Rather than operating as a separate effort, LtL serves as a coherence-building bridge across statewide work.Unified by shared frameworks and guidanceLtL is grounded in the same foundational guidance that shapes other initiatives, including the California ELA/ELD Framework, the California State Literacy Plan, and related state guidance documents. This ensures that all efforts align with a common vision of high-quality, evidence-based literacy instruction, language development, and equitable outcomes for all students.Leveraging and amplifying existing resources.LtL does not recreate tools or materials already developed through initiatives such as CCLA, CCEE, LCRSET, ARISE, Project CLEAR, and GEMS. Instead, it actively:Curates and utilizes high-quality resources developed through these effortsElevates promising practices and tools for broader useSupports LEAs in selecting and applying resources that best fit their local context Aligned structures and routines for coherenceTo reduce fragmentation and strengthen impact, LtL employs similar structures and improvement routines used across statewide initiatives, such as:Cycles of inquiry and continuous improvement (e.g., PDSA)Leadership development and capacity-building modelsConsulting, technical assistance, and professional learning systemsData-informed decision-making practices A system connector, not a competitorLtL’s role is to connect, align, and scale—helping county offices of education and LEAs make sense of multiple initiatives and integrate them into a coherent literacy strategy. By aligning messaging, practices, and supports, LtL helps ensure that statewide investments work together to strengthen literacy systems rather than compete for attention.In short: LtL advances coherence across California’s literacy landscape by anchoring work in shared frameworks, leveraging existing resources, and aligning implementation practices—ultimately supporting stronger, more unified literacy systems statewide.

LtL works through a network of County Offices of Education. The best starting point is your local COE. If your county is one of the fifteen COEs in the network, reach out to your COE directly to learn how they are supporting LEAs in your area. If you are unsure who to contact or want to learn more before reaching out locally, visit lead-to-literacy.org or email us at Hello@leadtoliteracy.org.