University of Alabama Receives $9.9 Million to Bring Intensive Reading Support to Rural Schools

Posted on November 10, 2026 by advision-admin

The University of Alabama’s new Project LIFT initiative will bring evidence-based reading interventions to 75 schools, focusing on young children whose literacy difficulties persist despite conventional instruction. Backed by a major federal grant, the five-year project will also test how rural schools can deliver and sustain intensive reading support.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama — The University of Alabama has received a $9.9 million federal grant to expand intensive literacy instruction for elementary … Read the rest

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Kansas City Literacy Partnership Targets Grade 3

Posted on November 9, 2026 by Cora Winslow

The Kansas City literacy partnership between public schools, charter schools, SchoolSmartKC, and community partners is focused on a clear problem: too few third graders are reading at grade level. As of 2025, SchoolSmartKC reported that only 21% of third-grade students across the Kansas City Public Education System, including district and charter schools, were proficient in English Language Arts on the Missouri Assessment Program, compared with 45% statewide in Missouri SchoolSmartKC … Read the rest

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University of South Florida Receives $4.8 Million to Improve Literacy for Young English Learners

Posted on November 9, 2026 by Helen Russell

The University of South Florida has secured a five-year federal grant to strengthen early literacy instruction for multilingual children across Tampa Bay. The STEEPLE-EL initiative will prepare approximately 110 educators, train 30 educational leaders, and investigate how research-based teaching practices can improve learning from preschool through third grade.

Tampa, Florida — The University of South Florida (USF) has received a $4.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to … Read the rest

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Adult Literacy Philadelphia: Metrics That Help

Posted on November 8, 2026 by Cora Winslow

Adult Literacy Philadelphia efforts need more than goodwill. Community programs, libraries, workforce partners, family learning sites, and referral networks all need shared ways to see whether adults are gaining skills, staying connected, and moving toward goals that matter in daily life. The best measures are not only test-based; they also show whether learners can keep attending, use reading and math in practical settings, and connect learning to work, family, and … Read the rest

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Connecticut homeschool law: What Families Need

Posted on November 7, 2026 by Cora Winslow

The Connecticut homeschool law, Public Act 26-37, gives Connecticut families and school districts a new framework for what the state now calls “parent-managed learning.” Signed by Governor Ned Lamont on May 26, 2026, the law does not remove the instructional subjects parents must cover, but it changes several procedures tied to withdrawing a child from public school, documenting home education, and district follow-up.

For parents, the most useful starting point … Read the rest

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Royals Literacy League and Early Reading Growth

Posted on November 7, 2026 by Cora Winslow

The Royals Literacy League gives Kansas City a practical case study in how schools, philanthropy, a major local sports organization, and families can work together around early reading. As of November 7, 2026, the available public evidence points to a serious, well-funded effort with promising early signs, while also showing why Kansas City still needs careful tracking before declaring broad reading gains across the region.

The need is clear. A … Read the rest

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Surf Therapy Program Claims: Toyota Context

Posted on November 6, 2026 by Cora Winslow

A Surf Therapy Program attributed to Toyota for youth with visual impairments sounds promising, but the available evidence does not support that specific claim. As of November 6, 2026, the research reviewed for this article found no credible documentation that Toyota operates, or has operated, a surf therapy effort specifically for young people who are blind or visually impaired. What the evidence does show is more precise: the University of … Read the rest

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Philadelphia literacy programs grow community reach

Posted on November 5, 2026 by Miles Hawthorne

Philadelphia literacy programs drew renewed public attention after several 2026 visits, funding announcements, and community education efforts highlighted both the size of the need and the practical work already underway. For families, the main message is clear: literacy support is not only a school issue. It connects adult education, early reading, digital access, neighborhood trust, and the everyday routines that help children see reading as part of family life.

As … Read the rest

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Head Start English-only Policy: What Families Need

Posted on November 5, 2026 by Miles Hawthorne

The Head Start English-only proposal raised urgent questions for families, educators, and community partners who care about early literacy. On August 7, 2026, the Administration for Children and Families published a proposed rule that would require classroom instruction in Head Start to be conducted in English, with an exception for American Indian and Alaska Native programs using tribal languages for heritage purposes, according to the Federal Register proposal.

As … Read the rest

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University of Pittsburgh Receives $3.1 Million to Test Phonics Interventions for Teenagers

Posted on November 5, 2026 by David Armstrong

The University of Pittsburgh has secured a five-year federal research grant to investigate whether systematic phonics instruction can help adolescents who continue to struggle with reading. The project could provide new evidence about how schools support older students who have not mastered foundational literacy skills.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — The University of Pittsburgh has received a $3,112,738 federal research grant to investigate whether systematic, accessible phonics instruction can improve reading skills … Read the rest

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