Author Archives: Miles Hawthorne

Philadelphia adult literacy is not only an adult education issue. It reaches families, workplaces, schools, health decisions, public services, and the daily confidence people need to read forms, help children with homework, use technology, and plan next steps. Beyond Literacy, often called BeLit, has become one of the most visible local programs responding to that need, and recent attention from city and state leaders has made the scale of the … Read the rest

The adult literacy crisis in Philadelphia is not only an employment issue or a classroom issue. It is a family issue, a school-readiness issue, and a community issue. When adults have limited reading, English language, numeracy, or digital skills, everyday communication with schools, employers, health providers, and public agencies can become harder. For young children, that can also affect how often reading feels natural and supported at home.

Beyond Literacy, … Read the rest

The READ Act impact is best understood as a push toward clearer state literacy planning, not as a single law that instantly raises reading scores. For families of young children, the most useful question is practical: has the law helped states put stronger reading systems in place for screening, instruction, teacher learning, and support for students who show early signs of difficulty?

The federal READ Act was enacted on December … Read the rest

On August 24, 2026, Connecticut was awarded a five-year, $10 million federal grant through the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research program. The Connecticut Literacy Grant was designed to expand targeted reading intervention, with integrated positive behavioral supports, for K-3 students who have significant reading difficulties, according to the state announcement from the Connecticut State Department of Education.

For families, teachers, and community literacy partners, the award … Read the rest

Massachusetts Literacy Grants moved from policy promise to district-level action on August 6, 2026, when the state awarded nearly $24.7 million to 71 school districts and one educational collaborative through four PRISM grant programs. The funding was designed to support evidence-based literacy instruction from pre-K through grade 12, with attention to instructional materials, educator learning, and reading outcomes across schools.

The award sat within Massachusetts’ Literacy Launch work, which had … Read the rest

The Wyoming Literacy Law is now in effect, giving families, teachers, and districts a statewide framework for K-12 reading instruction, assessment, intervention, and educator training. Signed on March 6, 2026, and effective on July 1, 2026, the law sets expectations for evidence-based language and literacy instruction across public schools while also calling for parent or caregiver involvement when students need extra reading support.

For early childhood and elementary literacy, the … Read the rest

On August 14, 2026, the Rhode Island Department of Education announced more than $18 million in competitive federal funding for two new reading initiatives. The Rhode Island Literacy Grants came through the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research program and were described by RIDE as support for literacy achievement, high-quality teaching, and learning statewide in its RIDE announcement.

For families, educators, and community partners, the key point … Read the rest