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Wilkes-Barre Area School District

We Are One
                      

Literacy Program

The purpose of the Keystones to Opportunity (KtO) initiative is to advance literacy skills, including pre-literacy skills, reading, and writing, for students from birth through grade 12, including limited-English-proficient students and students with disabilities. Funds support the development of a Local Comprehensive Literacy Plan and a grant-funded Local Literacy Improvement Plan.

Comprehensive Literacy Plan

USING THE WILKES-BARRE SCHOOL DISTRICT’S COMPREHENSIVE LITERACY PLAN
 
The WBASD Comprehensive Literacy Plan (CLP) was written to provide guidance to stakeholders about their roles in developing an integrated, aligned, and comprehensive set of literacy experiences for children (Birth-grade 12). Educators will find specific information about developing, implementing, and evaluating an evidence-based school literacy program. The document also addresses the important role of parents, librarians, those who work in community agencies, etc., who make important contributions to the development of literacy learning.
Below are suggestions for using this document.
 
1. The document is a dynamic one and the WBASD will continue to add resources that can enhance its comprehensiveness and usability. Given this fluidity, we recommend that readers access the document electronically; by doing so, they can use the hyperlinks to connect to resources that provide elaboration and explanation about various topics. The document will be updated on a regular basis and may include video clips of exemplary classroom practices for the guiding principles and essential elements, suggestions for the classroom teacher, and ideas for partnering with various stakeholders.
 
2. The CLP does not need to be read cover to cover. Often a specific need or interest drives individuals to pursue a particular topic. For example, the preschool teacher interested in oral language development can go directly to Essential Element 2, Oral Language, which addresses the key role of oral language in literacy development. In that section, readers will find research findings, instructional implications, and a list of resources, which include links to electronic materials. The secondary teacher of content can focus on Essential Element 6, Disciplinary Literacy, and again find similar information. Higher education faculty and those preparing teachers can find links to key documents prepared by the PA Department of Education.
 
3. The contents of the CLP can be used to identify goals, specific instructional strategies, or assessment approaches. In addition, they can consult references and resources in the document that may be helpful in writing a well-designed grant proposal.
 
4. The CLP can serve as the basis for curriculum development in our school or district. Schools can use the document to determine to what extent their literacy program addresses the guiding principles and essential elements described in the document. The Needs Assessment Tool in this document can be used as a guide for educators about how to make decisions that will improve their literacy program Birth-Grade 12.