SDCOE to Serve as Regional Hub and Evaluator for Statewide Literacy Grant

The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) has joined Contra Costa County and Glenn County offices of education in a statewide effort that focuses on supporting students with disabilities, students with dyslexia, and students who are dually identified by providing professional learning for K-12 educators.

Contra Costa COE received funding from the California Department of Education through the Reading Instruction and Intervention (RII) grant program. The funds will be used to support kindergarten to 12th grade programs that strategically leverage expertise related to inclusive, asset-based literacy learning for all students by providing evidence-based resources and support to educators across the state. Regional hubs will develop well-prepared teachers and leaders across California through statewide events; professional learning networks; local support and capacity building; and customized coaching. SDCOE will serve as the regional hub for the RII grant in Southern California.

The project, dubbed Project ARISE (Accelerating Reading Interventions for Systemic Excellence), includes the creation of an online repository of high-quality professional learning resources for literacy acceleration that integrate universal design for learning, culturally sustaining pedagogy, executive functioning, and social and emotional learning practices. 

“This is an exciting opportunity for SDCOE to lead the effort in Southern California,” said Dr. Shannon Baker, SDCOE executive director, curriculum and instruction. “We are beginning our outreach to districts and schools to access and prioritize where the needs are.” 

SDCOE will also serve as the external evaluator for the grant. Additional partners include TNTP, National Center on Intensive Intervention at the American Institutes for Research, Turnaround for Children, University of La Verne, and the UCSF Dyslexia Center.

Topics for professional development include:

• Intensive literacy interventions
• Support for executive functioning skills
• Celebration of diversity and assets-based approach
• Pedagogy of equity and family involvement

Grant outcomes:

1. Deliver professional learning for all educators   
2. Establish regional professional learning networks as a part of the statewide system of support
3. Align reading intervention professional learning to state initiatives
4. Develop knowledge and skills around the use of screening strategies and tools to identify student need.

SDCOE will be reaching out to districts later this summer to inform them about when the first learning module will be available to access. For more information, please contact Shannon Baker.