There is a reading crisis in Berkeley.

Did you know that one-third of Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) students do not read at grade level? There are many reasons why kids struggle to read, but a poor curriculum shouldn’t be one of them. We know what works — Mississippi, along with other states and districts made changes that dramatically improved student reading outcomes.

It’s time to toss “balanced literacy” out the door and commit to the research-backed way of teaching kids to read. BUSD must identify a new core curriculum and make sure teachers have sufficient training and support to implement it effectively. Reading for Berkeley urges you to sign this petition, joining parents/caregivers, teachers, and community members who want BUSD to provide:

1. A clear timeline for adopting a research and evidence-based, knowledge-building English Language Arts (ELA) K-12 curriculum that is systematic, cumulative, and explicit, with ongoing assessments to guide intervention. This program needs to align with the National Reading Panel’s report and California’s 2014 ELA/ELD Framework.

2. A district-wide open forum on literacy where families and community members can hear a jargon-free, transparent plan for improvement that includes a clear commitment to the science of reading. This forum must allow time for the public to ask questions.

Please sign your name in support of “Literacy and Justice for All.”