Topics K-3 Grades

April 6, 2023

The magic of story time: Why is reading aloud to kids so important?

Amid the escalating national literacy crisis, with its grim statistics and deeply entrenched ideological battles, this one is an easy fix, experts say. Read aloud to your children and students.

March 29, 2023

Documentary film asks: Do all children have 'The Right to Read?'

Literacy is the watershed social justice issue of our time, many advocates argue.

March 28, 2023

California districts vary enormously in reading achievement, report finds

A new study of low-income Latino students suggests that how they score in reading and writing stems more from how they are taught and less from their family income or English proficiency.

March 23, 2023

Amid California's mounting literacy crisis, state names new literacy directors

Since reading lays a foundation for all future learning, including math and science, many regard plunging test scores as cause for alarm.

February 10, 2023

The pandemic fueled a public school exodus, study says

Disruptions wrought by the pandemic may be leading the education world toward a watershed moment, some say, a time to rebuild the critical connection between families and schools.

January 18, 2023

The right choices? Leaders, policymakers and experts react to Gov. Newsom's 2022-23 education budget

See what education leaders are saying about the governor’s plan to fund education in the coming year.

January 17, 2023

Reactions to the governor's early education budget proposals

Leaders representing all segments of California’s education system share their reactions to the governor’s 2023-24 January budget proposal for early education.

December 20, 2022

Teaching young children how to read: What California parents need to know

What should parents do if they notice their child is falling behind in reading?

November 2, 2022

How badly did the pandemic deepen California's early reading crisis?

The scores may be grim, some say, but they're far from shocking. Some experts warn that cratering test scores warn of a system that was broken long before the pandemic.

October 6, 2022

How a California school is embracing the science of reading and phonics | Video

Watch how one school embraces the science of reading and phonics to teach children to read.

September 30, 2022

Let's nurture multilingualism in our youngest learners

Early childhood educators should support and celebrate the cultures, languages and circumstances of the children in their care.

September 29, 2022

The Right To Read: It took a lawsuit against California

California settled a lawsuit over literacy by giving 70 schools with the lowest 2019 test scores extra funding to teach children to read. Less than half of all third graders in the state scored at grade level in reading.

Karen D'Souza

Early Learning

September 26, 2022

Governor vetoes full-day and mandatory kindergarten bills

California won’t be making kindergarten mandatory or extending the kindergarten school day any time soon.

Zaidee Stavely

Commentary

September 13, 2022

Opportunity begins in kindergarten

Attendance in kindergarten should not be optional, and voluntary participation results in too many parents delaying their child’s entrance into school until first grade.

Alberto M. Carvalho and Pedro Noguera

Commentary

August 18, 2022

What it will take to ensure literacy for all California students

After decades of underfunding its public schools, California's investments in equity and literacy are showing progress.