Overview

Early reading success is a strong predictor of academic success in later grades, and the early childhood years are critical ones for literacy development. Governors have begun to make progress in raising literacy achievement through early initiatives that apply research and best practices, yet one in four eighth through 12th graders cannot read, write, or analyze at even basic levels. In addition, fourth grade marks a transition in expectations for student learning as children, rather than learning to read, are now reading to learn. If states are to improve high school graduation and college-readiness rates, they must improve students' literacy skills so they are able to perform at the higher standards demanded by the information economy. Governors can provide critical leadership to strengthen literacy at all grade levels. The NGA Center provides technical assistance to governors and state policymakers as they set the stage for a revitalized education system that prepares students for the increasing literacy demands of life in the 21st century.

Focus of Center Activities

Building upon the technical assistance provided to states in developing and implementing K-3 literacy plans, the NGA Center for Best Practices supports states as they extend their state literacy planning through the K-12 education continuum. The NGA Center's Reading to Achieve: State Policies to Support Adolescent Literacy project assists state policymakers in developing strategies and taking action to raise adolescent literacy achievement. Through this project supported by Carnegie Corporation of New York, the NGA Center awarded grants to Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Massachusetts to develop state literacy plans with a focus on improving adolescent literacy achievement and that incorporate state policy recommendations from Reading to Achieve: A Governor's Guide to Adolescent Literacy.

• Issue Brief: Supporting Adolescent Literacy Achievement
• State Project Summaries
• Grant Orientation Meeting Summary

Related Links

NGA

• Early Childhood
• No Child Left Behind
• Teacher Quality

Resources

• Alliance for Excellent Education
• U.S. Department of Education Reading First
• U.S. Department of Education Striving Reader
• National Institute for Literacy
• National Reading Panel
• Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children (National Academy of Sciences, 1998)
• Reading First
• Statement on Adolescent Literacy

Publications

• Reading to Achieve: A Governor's Guide to Adolescent Literacy
• Improving Early Literacy Skills to Reduce Special Education Referrals
• Improving Children's Reading Ability Through Volunteer Reading Tutoring Programs
• Improving Reading by Preparing Teachers
• Making Writing Instruction Work
• Developing and Supporting Literacy-Rich Environments for Children