Read Across America Day reinforces Arizona’s long-term literacy strategy

By Stacy Mantle
Mail

Monday saw school childreen across the Valley crack open a book and read as part of a national literacy campaigned aimed at improving their skills.

Launched by the National Education Association, Read Across Americ a Day is observed each year on March 2. Schools across Arizona host guest readers, literacy activities and family events designed to promote consistent reading habits.

While the day is celebratory, Arizona literacy leaders emphasize long-term success depends on structured instruction and coordinated support.

Terri Clark, Arizona literacy director for Read On Arizona, has underscored the importance of evidence-based reading strategy in statewide literacy efforts. 

“With the right instruction and support, almost all children can learn to read proficiently,” Clark said in outlining the Arizona Literacy Plan 2030. “Our educators are working hard to teach students to read every day, but they need support. This plan is a framework for Arizona to scale up evidence-based strategies so that all of our young learners can develop the literacy skills they need.”

Building readers is a long-term commitment

Arizona’s literacy strategy centers on science-of-reading practices, early identification of struggling students and educator training.

Clark emphasized the state’s commitment to preparing teachers for long-term impact.

“One hundred percent of our certified early grade educators will be trained in the science of reading and will have earned the K-5 Literacy Endorsement by 2028,” Clark said during a statewide gathering of literacy leaders.

Arizona has pursued literacy reforms before, including its third-grade reading proficiency policy, known as Move On When Reading. That law tied promotion decisions to a third-grade reading assessment. It drew criticism from some educators who argued it emphasized retention rather than early intervention.

In contrast, Arizona Literacy Plan 2030 centers on prevention — strengthening instruction, expanding early supports and building teacher capacity before students fall behind.

To advance that shift, the Arizona Department of Education has committed more than $80 million in federal and state funding to implement the plan. Investments include competitive grants for curriculum aligned with science-of-reading principles and the expansion of district-based literacy coaching. These literacy coaches — trained reading specialists embedded within schools — work directly with teachers to model lessons, analyze student data and support evidence-based instruction in classrooms.

“Literacy can no longer be treated as one program among many,” Clark said. “It has to be embedded in every grade, every system and every community.”

Strong readers are built through partnership

Lori Masseur, director of early learning at Read On Arizona, said sustained daily exposure to language is equally critical to bridge the literary gap.

“Read Across America Day reminds us that building strong readers starts with daily habits," Masseur said. "By engaging families and educators in exposing children to millions of words each year, we can boost vocabulary and make reading a meaningful part of life 365 days a year.”

Masseur said the annual event can serve as a launch point for long-term literacy engagement, explaining that the day, "... serves as a catalyst for families and educators to spark a lifelong love of reading — exposing children to millions of words annually, strengthening vocabulary development and reinforcing reading as a daily habit.”

Dozens of free tools are available for parents to use at home through LitHubAZ, the online literacy resource developed by Read On Arizona in support of the Arizona Literacy Plan 2030.

LitHubAZ offers evidence-based strategies and resources to help families support language and literacy development for children from birth through grade 12, including tips like Smart Talk to build early conversational and vocabulary skills with babies and toddlers.

Masseur emphasized that literacy growth is cumulative and developmental.

“We know that reading proficiency doesn’t happen overnight — it takes eight years to build a reader," she said. "Through Read On Arizona’s collaborative approach and tools like LitHubAZ, we are ensuring families, caregivers and educators have access to the evidence-based supports and resources to support school readiness and early literacy that help every child enter school ready to succeed.”

From celebration to sustained gains

Reading development begins before kindergarten and continues throughout the elementary years. Vocabulary exposure, structured phonics instruction and consistent practice compound over time.

Read Across America provides a visible reminder of that broader work — connecting classrooms, families and community partners around a shared priority. 

One day of reading will not close achievement gaps, experts say. But sustained daily practice, supported by trained educators and aligned statewide strategy, will make the difference.

Clark has consistently framed literacy as a shared responsibility.

“The plan is the framework. Everyone has a role to play," she said.

Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter

smantle@iniusa.org

Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.

Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.

Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!

Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.

Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.