Arizona is attempting to rewrite the script on early literacy by shifting from isolated programs to a statewide network of aligned, data-informed strategies.
According to a recent report from Helios.org, only 26 % of Arizona’s fourth‑graders were proficient in reading in 2024 (compared with about 31 % in 2022), demonstrating there is an immediate need for action.
As a result, multiple public, private and nonprofit groups are pooling resources to support students, families and educators in new and innovative ways — particularly in districts where reading gaps have persisted for decades.
New funding aims to uplift underserved districts
This year, the Ellis Center for Educational Excellence awarded $1.5 million in multiyear grants to three organizations targeting different angles of literacy reform.
The New Teacher Project is working with Phoenix Elementary School District to reimagine instruction and community engagement by expanding training and support for educators in Arizona schools that face the greatest staffing challenges.
A key focus will be literacy instruction — ensuring every new teacher is prepared to deliver evidence-based reading strategies aligned with Arizona’s science of reading initiative.
The funding also supports mentorship programs that improve retention, giving students access to consistent, high-quality literacy instruction in early grades. As more qualified educators enter and stay in classrooms, the result is stronger reading outcomes and long-term academic gains.
“This grant allows us to move beyond isolated initiatives and co-create lasting, coherent systems with Phoenix Elementary — systems that center around literacy and lift up the voices of families and educators,” said Carmen Orozco, partner at TNTP.
Meanwhile, the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation is using the funds to expand its College Promise program to support adult learners who may never have completed a postsecondary degree. This will help remove financial barriers for recruits from underserved communities by offering scholarships and stipends for emergency services training.
MCCCFD will also be using a portion of the funds to improve fire and emergency services across Maricopa County by upgrading equipment and simulation technology and ensuring cadets gain hands-on experience that reflects real-world conditions.
The department plans to expand safety education programs in local schools, combining fire prevention with reading-based activities that encourage early literacy. By integrating reading into public safety outreach, the department strengthens both academic and community resilience.
“This funding allows Maricopa colleges to now open the promised program so students can attend any of the 10 colleges,” said Judy Sanchez, interim president and CEO. “It’s not just for students coming out of high school — this is a path for adults too.”
All In Education is scaling its Parent Educator Academy and leadership development in the Roosevelt Elementary School District, helping build long-term capacity from within communities.
The grant will support expanded access to culturally responsive academic programs, family engagement initiatives and leadership development for both educators and advocates. It also supports the expansion of culturally responsive reading programs, bilingual family literacy nights and leadership development for educators trained in the science of reading.
These efforts are designed to improve third-grade reading proficiency, a key predictor of future academic success. By investing in early literacy and community-driven supports, All In Education is helping reshape Arizona’s educational future — starting with reading.
Statewide literacy grants expand reach
Beyond these grants, the Arizona Department of Education has ramped up support through initiatives such as the Early Literacy Grant, the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant and the Foundational Literacy Coaching Grant. Each program helps to strengthen educator training and instruction in early grades, especially in Title I schools.
Organizations like Read On Arizona also are moving the needle through place-based literacy work. This statewide public-private partnership integrates data systems, literacy research and community action to support children from birth to age 8.
Its recent Community Action Grants, totaling more than $100,000, are fueling local solutions in 20 “Read On Communities” in the state, including Buckeye, Chandler, Goodyear, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Surprise and Tempe.
“Literacy is the key to a child’s future success in school and life. Parents play an important role in supporting their child’s reading development at home by reinforcing foundational skills they are working on in the classroom.” said Terri Clark, Arizona literacy director for Read On Arizona.
Meanwhile, Arizona State University's SolarSPELL program is reimagining literacy access through solar-powered digital libraries. Originally deployed internationally, SolarSPELL now serves marginalized communities in Phoenix, providing residents with offline access to curated educational content.
“We built SolarSPELL to meet learners where they are,” said Dr. Laura Hosman, the program's co-founder and co-director. “The library generates a local offline hotspot, giving kids the experience of being online even when they aren’t. Now, on a two-hour bus ride to and from a rural school, they can learn math, science, or literacy without needing internet access. We’re curating content that’s open-access, multimedia-rich and meta tagged so a first-grader, ninth-grader or teacher can all find exactly what they need instantly.”
Support for reading isn't limited to schools. Arizona Humanities' AZ Reads - K–12 Literacy Initiative is funding projects that enhance youth reading and writing through the arts and humanities. Public libraries, too, are leveraging Library Services and Technology Act grants to promote digital, financial and reading literacy across age groups.
Looking ahead: integration and accountability
As these efforts gain momentum, experts emphasize the need for sustained funding, robust evaluation and community buy-in. The real promise lies in how these initiatives overlap: from paraprofessional training to community engagement and scholarship access to coaching support.
For Arizona’s literacy future, the path forward is clear: shared responsibility, smart partnerships and systems that work together to ensure every child can read — and succeed.
“Success means literacy outcomes are improving, but it also means families feel like partners, teachers feel supported and students are reading with joy and confidence,” Orozco 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 send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
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