Literacy is the foundation of all learning.

This work is part of SFUSD's Vision, Values, Goals and Guardrails framework adopted in 2022.

Recognizing that high-quality teaching is the cornerstone of successful education, and acknowledging the lack of adequate support for teachers in the past, SFUSD has initiated a comprehensive transformation of its instructional systems.

These efforts aim to:

1. Integrate Into Reading, a research-backed literacy curriculum that inclusively and effectively teaches foundational skills to the breadth of populations within SFUSD’s student body, and,

2. Sustainably inform, coach, and support teaching excellence, drawing on innovative practices and research to build thriving teaching communities.

After a piloting literacy curriculum in select schools in the 2023-2024 school year, SFUSD has selected the literacy curriculum, Into Reading, and will begin the Year 1 adoption process during the 2024-2025 school year. Into Reading was selected for its evidence-based high quality literacy instruction and materials. It aligns with the “Science of Reading” research on phonemic and phonological awareness, phonics and word analysis, fluency, language comprehension, background knowledge, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and writing. A critical element is that it provides ALL K-3 teachers with the curriculum tools to teach all the foundational reading skills, equipping all K-3 teachers to address skills not yet learned from prior grades.

Hiring Instructional Coaches for All Schools - In order to establish a thriving culture of instructional support, collaboration, and excellence, SFUSD has dramatically expanded hiring of instructional coaches. Prior to 2024, less than 25% of schools had an instructional coach. Starting the 2024-2025 school year, SFUSD is targeting 100% coverage of all elementary schools with an instructional coach.

Build and Embed a System and Culture of Instructional Coaching and Feedback - In order to quickly establish the new instructional coaching systems, SFUSD will engage leading experts and specialists to help SFUSD create and “kick-start” the foundation while also providing “train-the-trainer” development to the various counterparts within the instructional ecosystem.

These include:

1. Teachers

2. Instructional Leadership Teams (ILTs) - Each school has a school site ILT including the Principal, Asst Principal, the school’s instructional coach and grade level teacher representatives.

3. Central Office Instructional Coaches, Curriculum and Instructional District Leadership

Third grade is considered a critical milestone for literacy because it marks the transition from learning to read to reading to learn. Here are some key reasons why it is so important:

1. Shift in Learning Focus: Up until third grade, children are primarily focused on developing basic reading skills—decoding words, recognizing vocabulary, and improving fluency. Starting in fourth grade, the curriculum shifts, and students are expected to use reading as a tool to learn other subjects like science, social studies, and math. If a child is not reading proficiently by the end of third grade, they may struggle to keep up with the increasingly complex material.

2. Academic Success: Research shows that children who are not reading proficiently by third grade are more likely to fall behind in later grades. They are four times more likely to drop out of high school compared to their peers who are reading at grade level. This connection between third-grade reading proficiency and future academic success underscores the importance of early literacy interventions.

3. Social and Emotional Impact: Reading struggles can lead to frustration, low self-esteem, and disengagement from school. By ensuring that children are proficient readers by third grade, schools can help foster a positive attitude toward learning and reduce the likelihood of long-term academic difficulties.

4. Cognitive Development: Third grade is a time when children's cognitive development is advancing rapidly. Reading proficiency at this stage supports the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and comprehension skills that are essential for success in all areas of life.

5. Predictor of Future Success: Studies have shown that third-grade reading levels are strong predictors of future success, not just academically but also in terms of career and life opportunities. Ensuring that children are reading at grade level by third grade helps set them on a path toward achieving their full potential.

Because of these reasons, third grade is often targeted for literacy interventions, and schools and policymakers place a strong emphasis on ensuring that students reach this important milestone.