Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

Calling All Schools: The Plan to Ensure all Students Learn to Read by Third Grade

As a reminder, I am cordially inviting you and members of your team to join me in at a special meeting of all school districts and charters to discuss statewide efforts to ensure all students learn to read by third grade.

As we all know, an emphasis on literacy and reading comprehension as part of early childhood education is paramount in the effort to ensure all students are not left behind when it comes to reading and language-based skills. It is also key on putting students on the path to graduate and attain success in future careers.

Please join me for our meeting, “Calling All Schools: The Plan to Ensure all Students Learn to Read by Third Grade” that will take place on Friday May 20, 2022, 11 a.m. to Noon. You are encouraged to invite any member of your team who works on your literacy efforts to attend this meeting.

Please register in advance for this virtual Zoom meeting.

During this meeting, we will be asking every district to commit to a goal of ensuring that all students will learn to read by third grade by the year 2026. Districts will be asked to share their vision, plans, and resources that they intend to use to reach this goal.

Additionally, we are asking districts to communicate with the California Department of Education on areas they identify in which they may need help in meeting the goal of ensuring students learn to read by third grade by 2026.

Technical assistance and tools for reaching this goal will be provided in the meeting along with updates regarding all state resources that can be accessed now and those expected to be available in the future.

I hope to see you on Friday, May 20 for this important meeting for all school districts.

Please share this invitation with members of your team and register as soon as possible. Any questions or suggestions you have may be directed to statewideliteracampaign@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond