Bright Spots in Los Angeles: School Districts Leading the Charge to Solve the Literacy Crisis

Despite substantial financial investments in education, millions of California students continue to struggle with reading on grade level, threatening their academic success and future opportunities. But we can change this! Families In Schools has released a new report, Bright Spots in Los Angeles: School Districts Leading the Charge to Solve the Literacy Crisis, highlighting four school districts in Los Angeles County—Bonita Unified, Garvey Elementary, Long Beach Unified, and Los Angeles Unified—demonstrating stronger literacy outcomes for their students. By shifting to structured literacy instruction, these districts are aligning classroom instruction with reading science, setting a new benchmark for literacy success. “This is a civil rights issue. We cannot afford to let another generation of students fall behind due to ineffective literacy instruction,” said Yolie Flores, President and CEO of Families In Schools. “We hope this report inspires districts across Los Angeles and California to pursue evidence-based literacy strategies, including those shared by districts that have led to improved literacy outcomes. Now is the time for policymakers, educators, and community leaders to unite and ensure that every child—no matter their background—has access to the fundamental right of literacy.”