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Santa Barbara Reading Coalition

Half of Santa Barbara's children can’t read by the end of third grade. This needs to change!

Sign the Charter
Half of Santa Barbara’s children can’t read by the end of third grade. This needs to change!
Sign the Charter

"We believe all children deserve to learn to read, and all teachers can learn to teach them."

The Reading League

Our Mission

The Santa Barbara Reading Coalition is a group of concerned citizens advocating for improved reading skills for all public school children on the Santa Barbara County south coast. Reading is the foundation of every child’s future, and illiteracy creates a ripple effect that spans generations. From poverty to imprisonment, homelessness to unemployment, low literacy impacts not just children, but our entire community.

But there’s hope. Science and research show us how to solve this problem. Other school districts have successfully tackled low literacy rates. Santa Barbara needs to do the same. Community involvement is key. Together, we can advocate for proven methods so all children have the reading skills they need to succeed.

Join us in this mission

Sign the Charter and become part of a movement to make lasting, impactful change in our schools and communities.
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Proven Strategies for Success

Based on the experiences of other school districts in our state and nationwide that have successfully implemented the science of reading, achieving widespread literacy proficiency in grades TK through 12 require the following six strategies:

  • Comprehensive teacher training: Intensive instruction on Science of Reading methods, with continued support.
  • Science-based curricula: Adoption of a reading curriculum based on decades of interdisciplinary research.
  • Accountable leadership: District and board leadership prioritize and set clear performance targets, holding all stakeholders accountable.
  • Measurable outcomes: Standardized assessments and clear performance objectives at every grade level.
  • Public transparency: Ongoing updates on the district’s progress toward meeting literacy goals.
  • Community involvement: A community-driven effort to monitor and encourage literacy progress.
We also advocate for phonemic awareness and phonics-based instruction in preschool (TK), and support for struggling students in grades 7-12 who have been left behind by previous teaching methods.

“Teaching reading is rocket science.”

Dr. Louisa Moats

“We read to know
we are not alone.”

C. S. Lewis

Get Involved

Your support can change the future of our children. Join us today.

Sign the Charter

Sign the Charter

Sign the Charter and become part of a movement to make lasting, impactful change in our schools and communities.

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