Literacy Express
Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
- This strategy can help address educational disparities, which the U.S. Department of Treasury has designated as an eligible use of SLFRF funds.
Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Program basics
- Preschool curriculum for children aged three to five, primarily intended to improve language development and early literacy
- Structured around 10 thematic units, covered in three to four weeks each
- Can be used in half- or full-day preschools, can be used for typically developing children, children with special needs, and children from non-English speaking families
- Provides professional development to teachers and staff
- Includes teaching materials, suggested activities, daily schedules, and classroom management recommendations
Strength of evidence
Evidence level: Proven (highest tier)
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Proven (highest tier)
Ranked as having the highest level of evidence by the U.S. Department of Education's What Works Clearinghouse
Target population
Preschool-aged children
Program cost
$2,300 per classroom package
Implementation locations
- California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Texas (as of 2010)
Dates active
Not available
Outcomes and impact
- Positive effects on oral language, print knowledge, and phonological processing
- No discernible effects on cognition and math skills
- Oral language skills improved by an average of 12 percentile points
- Print language skills improved by an average of 15 percentile points
- Phonological processing improved by an average of 12 percentile points
Keys to successful implementation
- Note: This content is under review
- As with all evidence-based curricula, Literacy Express must be delivered with fidelity in order to achieve positive outcomes.
- Teachers must be provided with ample professional development opportunities to master curriculum and should be evaluated regularly to ensure that model is delivered with fidelity.
