LOS ANGELES, CA— Families In Schools (FIS) has launched Read LA! on the ReachWell app to deliver carefully curated, curriculum-aligned early literacy tools and resources to families across Los Angeles. The app makes content available in more than 130 languages, by age group and grade, and without requiring families to create an account or share personal information, reducing any barriers to access. Through this partnership, Read LA! is advancing its core campaign goal of getting 70% of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) students to read proficiently by the end of third grade by 2030.
Read LA! will bring early literacy information and activities to families through the app to equip parents and caregivers with the tools they need to support their children’s literacy at home and advocate for them at school. The focus on equipping parents to support their children’s literacy development follows FIS’ fight to pass legislation that addresses improved literacy instruction in the classroom. Currently, only 43% of Los Angeles third graders are reading at grade level—FIS and the Read LA! Coalition are committed to reversing this trend, ensuring that Los Angeles children can read and thrive.
“While improving classroom instruction is at the crux of improving reading outcomes for children, we know that engaging and equipping families to be strong partners in their children’s education is a powerful driver for literacy success,” said Yolie Flores, President & CEO of Families In Schools. “We’re excited to partner with ReachWell because we know families want access to information and guidance to ensure their children can read; they want to do everything in their power to help their children be successful in school and in life.”
The Read LA! app was developed with direct input from parents and caregivers, focus groups, coalition partners, and Literacy Ambassadors, ensuring trusted, carefully curated early literacy resources are placed directly in families’ hands. In addition to literacy tools, the app will share important news and resources from FIS, the Read LA! Coalition, and other partners.
“Our mission, at ReachWell, is equitable community engagement. We designed the most accessible tool out there because everyone has a right to access information and resources easily,” said Zuben Bastani, CEO and Founder of ReachWell. “I know how critical Read LA! is in the community, and we are so excited they have chosen to join ReachWell.”
In just a few easy steps, anyone can get powerful early literacy tools from Read LA! on the ReachWell app:
- Download the ReachWell app wherever you download apps or through this website, and accept push notifications.
- Select your preferred language.
- Search for and add “Read LA!”.
- In the Read LA! channel, update your groups for the literacy notifications you want: “Pre-K,” “Kinder,” “1st Graders,” “2nd Graders,” and/or “3rd Graders.”
To learn more about Read LA, visit: https://www.familiesinschools.org/read-la/
About Families In Schools
For more than 20 years, Families In Schools has provided capacity building to education staff, empowered families to support their children’s education, and has advocated for policies and practices that promote authentic family engagement. When schools engage families, families get involved, and student achievement increases. Students are more likely to succeed when schools, families, and communities work together in partnership to maximize and support student learning. For more information visit www.familiesinschools.org
About Read LA!
Read LA! is a campaign to ensure Los Angeles children can read and thrive. Focused on reversing the decades-long literacy crisis in our city, our coalition of partners are carrying out a three-year strategic plan to improve literacy outcomes for young Angelinos. We partner with LAUSD to ensure that students receive effective literacy instruction, engage and equip families of young children to support their children’s literacy at home, and help address other barriers to children’s early literacy development. Our campaign is also building a movement, led by parents, to advocate for state policy that aligns literacy instruction with evidence-based practices and the science of reading.
