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Arizona’s Literacy Plan 2030 targets reading gains with science
In a strategic push to reshape Arizona’s educational future, state leaders, educators and community organizations are aligning behind Literacy Plan 2030 — an initiative aimed at ensuring all students read proficiently by third grade
Offiicals say the need is urgent as 31% of Arizona fourth graders scored at or above proficient in reading on the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress. Data from the Arizona Department of Education show achievement gaps across racial, geographic and economic lines.
But rather than focus on deficits, officials say they believe Literacy Plan 2030 is centered on scalable, proven solutions.
“We’ve hit a plateau in literacy growth since the pandemic,” said Terri Clark, Arizona literacy director for Read On Arizona. “Now the focus is on getting back to — exceeding — pre-pandemic levels using strategies we know work.”
“We’ve always known these strategies work. The problem wasn’t design, it was scale. Now we’re seeing results, and the state is reinvesting accordingly,” Clark said.
A framework for sustainable progress
“Arizona Literacy Plan 2030 is a rallying cry for committing to what works,” said Sean Ross, executive director of the Arizona State Board of Education. “Evidence-based reading instruction and interventions work for all students, including English learners and students exhibiting characteristics of dyslexia. We know the direction to head, and we’re all heading in that direction together.”
Launched by the Arizona State Board of Education and supported by Gov. Katie Hobbs’ office, the plan is grounded in the science of reading — a body of research that emphasizes phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.
Key strategies include:
- Early screening and intervention: Statewide adoption of universal literacy screeners in grades K-3 to identify struggling readers and intervene early.
- Teacher training and support: Professional development in structured literacy methods with incentives for educators to earn reading specialist credentials.
- Family and community engagement: Collaboration with libraries, nonprofits and early childhood providers to strengthen literacy outside the classroom.
- Data transparency: A statewide data dashboard to track student progress, ensure accountability and guide instructional decisions.
“We took a high-level look at what matters,” Clark said. “Literacy coaching came up again and again — particularly when scaled effectively. That’s where states like Mississippi, Louisiana and others have surged ahead.”
Arizona Charter Academy in Surprise is one of the schools using the program’s techniques.
“I read all the research and statistics,” said Heather Henderson, chief academic officer at the K-8 Title I school. “It says that 95% of kids can read if you follow these methods” based on the science of reading. “Our kids are no different. I was like, ‘We’re going to make this happen. We’re going for it. This isn’t negotiable.’”
Within two years of implementing structured literacy, ACA increased reading proficiency by 14 percentage points, with the largest gains among English learners and students who had been two or more grade levels behind, according to Read On Arizona data.
“In the last few years, the big difference is that the staff and I are beginning to really understand the science of reading,” Henderson added.
From mandates to momentum
While Arizona has tried reading reforms before — including the Move On When Reading law, which requires students who fail a third-grade reading test to be retained and has faced criticism for focusing on punishment rather than prevention — past efforts often centered on test-based retention. Literacy Plan 2030 shifts that focus to continuous support and building teacher capacity.
The Arizona Department of Education has committed more than $80 million in federal and state funding to support the plan. Investments include competitive grants for curriculum aligned with the science of reading and the expansion of district-based literacy coaching. These coaches are specially trained reading specialists embedded in schools who mentor teachers, model lessons and help track student progress.
Early wins and long-term vision
Though the initiative targets 2030 for full implementation, early adopters are seeing what officials called encouraging results. Districts piloting structured literacy programs have reported double-digit gains in reading proficiency — especially among English learners and students in rural areas.
In the DeMiguel Elementary School District in Flagstaff, third-grade reading proficiency climbed from 36% to 53% over five years after implementing structured literacy instruction along with targeted teacher training and literacy coaching.
Sustaining that growth will require more than funding. Advocates are calling on lawmakers, educators and families to stay engaged.
“We’re not just talking about evidence-based interventions,” Clark said. “We’re calling on state systems, local orgs and parents to make specific, actionable commitments.”
“Literacy powers learning — and that power has to be shared across systems,” Clark said. “That’s why we’re working with districts, community orgs and policy leaders to align around what works.”
What parents can do
“Attendance is critical,” said Janice Palmer, senior vice president of government affairs and public policy at Helios Education Foundation. “We need our students in the classroom, especially in the early grades, when they’re learning foundational literacy skills.”
Clark also emphasized the vital role families play in literacy development.
“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,” she said.
The rollout of Literacy 2030
The plan’s rollout begins this summer and is structured around four key drivers:
- Building educator capacity in the science of reading.
- Scaling evidence-based solutions.
- Strengthening families and communities to support early literacy development.
- Increasing access to quality early learning opportunities.
“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.”
“Arizona’s Literacy Plan 2030 is more than a roadmap — it’s a rallying point,” she added.
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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