Read LA! — Ensuring LA Children Can Read & Thrive

In Los Angeles—and across the state—far too many children are unable to read on grade level by the end of the third grade.

Research shows that third-grade reading proficiency is a critical milestone. Those who are not reading at grade level by this point are four times more likely to leave high school without a diploma (Hernandez, 2011). For children living in poverty, Black or Latino students, and English learners, the reading proficiency levels range from 37% to 17% (CAASPP Data Analysis, 2025).

The research is clear: if kids can’t read, their chances of success in school and in life are limited. We live in the information age, and almost every job requires that one have the ability to read. Parents know this, too. They are keenly aware that, if their children cannot read, they cannot succeed. This is why Families In Schools (FIS) launched the Read LA! campaign!

From Vision to Action

Launched in 2023, FIS’s Read LA! campaign set a bold goal: By 2030, 70% of LAUSD third-grade students will be reading at grade level.

Guided by the pillars of advocacy, awareness, and family engagement, Read LA! unites educators, parents, advocates, and community leaders to keep literacy at the forefront of our city’s priorities. From day one, our vision has been unwavering: every child in Los Angeles deserves the fundamental right to read. In today’s challenging political climate, this mission is not optional; it is essential. We must stay the course, champion early literacy, and ensure it remains the foundation for every child’s future success and opportunity.

Our Strategies

• Advocacy: Advocate for and implement evidence-based, equity-driven policies and investments that improve instruction, support educators, and expand access to effective early literacy practices in the classroom.
• Awareness: Elevate the early literacy crisis as a shared priority at both the local and state levels through strategic communications, public engagement, and storytelling that moves hearts and minds.
• Family Engagement: Equip families with culturally responsive tools, resources, and opportunities to be their children’s first and most powerful teachers and strongest advocates.

Celebrating Successes

In just over a year, Read LA! has built remarkable momentum:

• Recruited 18 community partners and individuals to become members of the Read LA! Coalition.
• Activated 48 Literacy Ambassadors—parents, caregivers, and advocate leaders—hosting community pláticas on early literacy in neighborhoods across Los Angeles.
• Partnered with LAUSD board members, coalition partners, and parent advocates to secure unanimous approval of the Readers to Leaders Resolution, amplifying the voice and needs of our families.
• Advocated for AB 1454 to require evidence-based literacy training for TK–5 teachers, updated ELA/ELD materials, and administrator preparation standards aligned with the science of reading.
• Organized Read LA! Storytime, a family engagement initiative bringing early literacy activities and read-alouds to communities across Los Angeles in response to the recent LA wildfires; in partnership with Scholastic and PaperPie, we’ve distributed 3000+ books to over 2000 children.
• Launched Read LA! on the ReachWell app, delivering thousands of families easy, actionable ways to support their child’s literacy journey at home.

Meeting the Moment, Together!

We are at a turning point. Post-pandemic recovery, growing partnerships, and an engaged community have created the perfect catalyst for transformative change. The energy is here. The will is here. Now, we must keep pushing forward.

Join Us in the Movement for Early Literacy

• Families: Sign up for our Read LA! Newsletter, explore Read LA! on the ReachWell app, and create daily reading moments at home.
• Partners: Host a community literacy event or help distribute resources to families.
• Supporters: Invest in our work by donating, volunteering, and amplifying our message.

Together, we can make Los Angeles a city where every child learns to read and reads to learn.

Sources:

California Department of Education. (2025, April 16). “Analysis of 2022-23 and 2023-24 CAASPP data from the California Department of Education.” Analysis completed for Families In Schools’ Bright Spots in Los Angeles: School Districts Leading the Charge to Solve the Literacy Crisis report. https://bit.ly/brightspots-report

Hernandez, D. J. (2011, April). Double jeopardy: How third-grade reading skills and poverty influence high school graduation. Annie E. Casey Foundation. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED518818.pdf