What We Know
A majority of students are not reading at grade level.
This problem spans race, ethnicity, and economic circumstances—it is not isolated to a single group. Despite strong research consensus on how children learn to read, 70% of districts continue to teach literacy skills with methods not backed by science. While some families can afford additional support outside of school, these resources are unavailable to most students.
The solution begins with the universal adoption of structured, evidence-based, systematic literacy instruction.
Research shows that structured literacy is essential for many children and beneficial for all. With the right approach, an estimated 95% of children can be taught to read by the end of first grade.
FULCRUM has a roadmap to success.
Districts and networks must select tools that successfully align with their unique needs, considering individualized conditions, resources, and challenges. However, although implementation may vary across the country, the roadmap to success remains consistent. These Eight Essential Practices are universal:
Eight Science of Reading (SoR) Essential Practices
Foster a culture for SoR to thrive
1
Empower a literacy chief
2
Adopt high-quality curriculum aligned with teacher prep time
3
Hire SoR-trained teachers
4
Provide ongoing SoR professional development
5
Mandate universal screening
6
Employ “safety nets” / multi-tiered systems of support
7
Require data-informed decision making
8
*FULCRUM’s essential practices are inspired by Oakland NAACP’s Administrative Petition to Improve Literacy Scores Among Oakland Public School Students.
Reading skills do not develop naturally—they must be explicitly taught.
While some children can find their way through a variety of methods, over 50% will never learn to read without receiving direct, systematic, sequential instruction using the Six Pillars of Literacy.
FULCRUM is leading a movement to change systems and improve reading outcomes nationwide.