California districts are turning a corner on the literacy crisis.

This is what they're doing.

reduction in early literacy gaps at Korematsu Discovery Academy, Oakland USD

“When we started Ignite Reading, 43% of our 2nd–5th grade students were reading at a Kindergarten level. After three years, that dropped to 6%. That's an 84% reduction in early literacy gaps.”

Amie Akuma, Principal
Korematsu Discovery Academy, Oakland Unified School District

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District Success Stories
Download California Funding Guide
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Hear From the Districts
That Built It

California district and school leaders share what it took to move from identification to actual acceleration with Ignite Reading early literacy intervention and what their students' data looks like now.

CA state map with three books flying and a rocket coming out the top

Claudia Salvestrin

Associate Superintendent, Instructional Services, Shasta County Office of Education

"The rate of growth was consistent across all student groups, including students with disabilities. There was no disparity — which was a critical indicator that the intervention was working."

Seeded Ignite Reading intervention across multiple Shasta County Districts

Amie Akuma

Principal, Korematsu Discovery Academy,
Oakland USD

"Everyone's making growth — it does not matter if you have an IEP or if you are an English language learner. If you both have an IEP and are an English language learner, you are making growth."

84% reduction in early literacy gaps over 3 years

Tanya Harris

Director of Elementary Education,
Alameda USD

"Site principals are actively requesting expanded access, which means they're seeing student progress. Students share that they love their tutors.”

60% of targeted students met goal with 3+ months of the school year still to go

On average, students in Ignite Reading gain
more than 5 additional months of progress
in reading compared to national norms. That acceleration is consistent across all races and ethnicities, students with IEPs, and multilingual learners.
— Johns Hopkins University, 2025

On Demand Webinar
Screening Is Just a Start: How CA Districts Turn Risk Data Into Reading Gains

Hear how a CA district leader, a county education department leader, and a principal moved from screening data piling up around them to data-driven intervention systems that work within the school day and within their budgets.

Young student smiles at book he's reading from

“We made a visit to Oakland Unified School District, and they are partnering with a group called Ignite Reading ... they’ve seen incredible results.”

Tony Thurmond
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction

The funding is there. Here's exactly where to find it.

Our California Funding Guide breaks down how districts are using CCSPP, ELO-P, LCAP, Differentiated Assistance, and more to close reading gaps for good with Ignite Reading. Get examples from districts across the state.

Oakland did it. Alameda did it. Shasta County did it.

This is how it starts.

Our California team partners with districts across the state to build the early literary intervention plan that fits your schools, your students, and your existing funding.

Book a meeting now to start building your district plan.