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About Us |
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The National Literacy Coalition
(NLC) traces its roots to a small Colorado school district’s
literacy journey beginning in the early 1990s. Struggling through
many years of depressed student achievement complicated by contrasting
philosophies, the national and state academic standards movement
compelled collective dialogue at levels never experienced before.
After two years of exhaustive research on literacy programs and
effective staff development practices, the need for a district-wide,
differentiated approach emerged as the critical elements.
Beginning on a beautiful Colorado August morning, seventy-five enthusiastic
educators assembled for intensive training in balanced methods of
literacy teaching. Packed into a hot and stuffy church basement,
these teachers and administrators emerged a week later rejuvenated
and committed to challenging and supporting their children to achieve
literacy success. The ensuing school term brought the first year
of implementation. While the struggles were many, the results were
striking.
This talented and committed group of teachers, program leaders,
and administrators began to realize the impacts of this program
almost immediately. As the curriculum director noted following an
October visit to elementary classrooms, “there is more learning
happening here than I have ever seen in my career.” Yet, it
was not only the levels and consistency of literacy instruction
that struck visitors; the levels of children’s personal knowledge
and pride in their own learning touched the hearts of the entire
school community. The Director of Literacy rightfully boasted, “We
are changing this community forever.”
This transformed school community predictably yearned to “spread
the good news” about their successes to fellow educators.
Exhibiting an all but missionary zeal, teachers began to share their
learnings with colleagues in formal and informal circles throughout
the state. Given the vision of district leadership coupled with
the need to continuously enhance the training and resources available
to the staff, the NLC was born as an entrepreneurial venture with
a single mission – to take the message of exemplary, school-wide
literacy practices to every educator willing to listen.
Five hundred schools and more than 3000 educators later, the NLC
Model is now helping students and educators along their own literacy
journeys. A national model for school reform, the NLC provides training,
ongoing support, and technical assistance to schools committed to
a singular vision – all children can learn to read and write. |
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