“Unlocking Literacy: How the Science of Reading Transforms Education Beyond the Classroom” – SaportaReport

By Yolanda Marroquin

Many kids in Georgia find reading really tough. In fact, only 30% of fourth graders are reading at grade level. To tackle this issue, the Georgia Early Literacy Act (House Bill 538) was introduced in 2023. This law focuses on using the science of reading, a method that has proven effective in teaching kids the basics of reading.

However, schools alone can’t fix this problem. That’s where nonprofit organizations come in. They significantly enhance literacy outside the classroom. Learn4Life, along with the Rollins Center for Language & Literacy, is working to make a bigger difference.

Through the Literacy and Justice for All (LJFA) program, Learn4Life and the Rollins Center support schools, teachers, and families in improving early literacy. They are expanding their efforts with the LJFA Nonprofit Network, which provides nonprofits with training grounded in research. This will help nonprofits better support young learners by focusing on reading skills.

What is the Science of Reading?

The science of reading is a research-based approach that explains how children learn to read. It focuses on several key areas: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. These elements work together to help kids become confident readers.

Georgia is implementing these methods in classrooms to boost student outcomes. But learning takes place in various environments. Nonprofits play a crucial role in supporting literacy through tutoring, mentoring, and community reading programs.

The Rollins Center offers free training through Cox Campus, an online platform that gives practical literacy strategies to those involved in education.

How Nonprofits Strengthen Literacy

The LJFA Nonprofit Network helps spread structured literacy into community programs, ensuring more children receive quality reading support. Many nonprofits already focus on literacy, but this initiative teaches them how to use effective methods that lead to real improvement.

By adopting structured literacy practices, nonprofits can:

• Stay updated with the latest research to improve literacy programs.
• Train volunteers in effective teaching methods.
• Offer structured literacy in afterschool and community settings.

This initiative is particularly important for organizations working with young children, ages 0-9. This period is vital for literacy growth. By strengthening resources across Georgia, LJFA ensures all children gain essential reading skills, no matter where they learn.

How the Training Works

Each nonprofit will work with Learn4Life to create a training plan that suits their team. The training is flexible and self-paced, allowing staff and volunteers to learn when it works for them.

• Staff and volunteers can finish the training in about 2-4 hours.
• Leaders will spend about 10 hours over a few months to help their teams apply the training.
• Training topics include conversational skills, vocabulary building, trauma-informed practices, and oral language development.

How to Join

Organizations interested in becoming part of the LJFA Nonprofit Network can fill out a short interest survey. Afterwards, Learn4Life will reach out to invite them to orientation. Here, they’ll learn how to access Cox Campus and find suitable training.

By bringing structured literacy into nonprofit programs, the LJFA Nonprofit Network helps more children in Georgia become skilled readers, setting them up for success in school and life.

This is sponsored content.

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