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. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve this outcome are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery 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.
