Make sure your student is on track for reading success

Learn about key educational rights and what helpful questions to ask your school. This comprehensive resource is meant to help build a strong partnership between families and schools, as we work together to help all kids learn to read. 

NEW! 2 simple questions to ask your child's teacher.  Teachers in BUSD elementary and middle schools will meet with families this October and check in about how learning is going in the classroom. Take the opportunity to open up avenues of conversation that center the power of evidence-based learning.

We’ve collected a few resources from reputable sources to practice reading skills for summer 2024, plus added sections on easy ways to help prevent 'summer slump'.

A supplemental infographic summary of R4B's "Actions for Reading Success" guide

Our first guide: Learn about BUSD's Literacy and Math assessments and how to get your student’s test scores

For decades, there have been deep inequities in Berkeley

85% of white students read at grade level by 3rd grade, but less than 30% of Black and 37% Learning Disabled students do. The data point to even worse outcomes for English Learners—only 15% can read at grade level in 3rd grade. 2019 CAASPP Data 

This isn't unique to Berkeley, but we are well positioned to finally do something about it. 

We are on a mission to ensure all students get effective reading instruction.

In November 2021, Berkeley Unified agreed to evaluate, monitor and change the way kids were taught to read at every level (tiers 1, 2 and 3). The first court monitor report was October 2022, and will continue bi-annually until 2025.

Learn more

Download our "Further Reading" fact sheet with links to relevant information about the outcomes of not being able to read, the benefits of a structured approach, and more.

Write a letter

Take and edit our letter template to let our Board of Education know that the time is now to make substantive changes in order to reach educational equity.  

Letter and comment archive:

November 2022

October 2022

May 2022

January 2022

Stay informed

Sign up for our mailing list stay up to date. With your support, we can improve reading outcomes for all students. 

Concerns

We shared concerns about the first progress report on the settlment in late October 2022

Progress Reports

BUSD's first progress report October 2022

January 2023 progress report

April 2023 progress report

August 2023 progress report

October 2023 progress report

January 2024 progress report

NEW! April 2024 progress report

Court Monitor Reports

George Ellis, the impartial court monitor's first report November 2022

Second court monitor report and presentation deck June 2023

NEW! Third court monitor report and presentation deck January 2024

Reading is justice

Watch a presentation on literacy advocacy, which was shared with the Cragmont Elementary PTA January 20, 2022.

Districts present data and info on how kids read in their schools

Watch Reading for Berkeley member Lindsay Nofelt (starts at 05:48) and BUSD Sup. Enikia Ford Morthel (starts at 47:53) present on November 28, 2022.

OUR COALITION PARTNERS

More to come...