About Us

Literacy is the very foundation of all learning and the pathway to liberation for every human being.

We help educators serving high-need student populations learn high-impact instructional strategies and nurture dynamic professional learning communities that continue the trajectory of improvement in schools

Check out our Case for Support for an extensive overview of our work, our national impact, and the students and teachers we serve.

Our Mission

Children’s Literacy Initiative seeks to dismantle structural racism by providing Black and Latinx children with the anti-racist early literacy instruction, support, and advocacy needed to create equity in education.

See how our mission reflects our work and the children we serve >>

A Legacy of Proven Impact

Founded in 1988, CLI helps educators serving high-need student populations learn high-impact instructional strategies and nurture dynamic professional learning communities that continue the trajectory of improvement in schools.

The American Institutes of Research report on a randomized control trial evaluation of CLI’s i3 Validation project found statistically significant results for our impact on teacher practice and student learning. Our approach and results are now part of the What Works Clearinghouse.

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CLI's Case for Support

CLI Annual Report 2022 - Regional Impact

CLI Annual Report 2022 - Thank You to our Supporters

Supporting Educators

A teacher’s literacy instruction plays the most critical role in a student’s reading development, but many teachers fail to receive adequate training in this area.

CLI provides educators with high-quality training, coaching, and resources to enable them to become exemplary instructors who make an impact in helping children achieve reading proficiency at or above grade level.

By helping educators learn high-impact instructional strategies and nurturing dynamic professional learning communities, CLI builds lasting capacity in teachers and principals over time.

CLI works with district partners to create sustainable organizational processes that continue the trajectory of improvement in schools. Building a teacher’s instructional expertise impacts student learning over the course of a teacher’s career.

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Transforming Literacy Instruction

We coach teachers in-person, virtually and through blended learning, stock classrooms, and provide workshops & seminars on research-based early literacy best practices to improve instruction so children become powerful, readers, writers and thinkers.

In 2010, CLI won a highly competitive $21.7 million Validation grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund to implement its program in 38 schools in four urban cities.

Learn more about i3 Validation

Trusted & Validated

For over 30 years, we have built on this foundation, continuing to grow and improve our methodologies to transform and strengthen classrooms, build teacher knowledge and capacity, and improve student literacy outcomes. Supporters can trust that their investments are valued and used to further the CLI mission, to transform early literacy.

Supporters can trust that their investments are valued and used to further the CLI mission, to transform early literacy.

Charity Navigator
We’ve received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, which means we’re accountable, transparent, and financially healthy! View the Report

GuideStar
Sound fiscal management and a commitment to accountability and transparency have earned CLI a Gold Participant rating. View the Report

High Impact Philanthroy
UPenn’s Center for High-Impact Philanthropy identified CLI as on organization where charitable dollars can do the most good. View the Report

Connect with us and learn how you can have an impact.

Inspired by what you've seen and want to support CLI? You can contact a member of our Development Team to learn more about how your philanthropic investment can advance our literacy mission.