CLI Wins the Top Honor in the Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program
Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) wins the 2017 David M. Rubenstein Prize, the top honor in the Library of Congress Literacy Awards program for the organization making outstanding and measurable contributions in increasing literacy levels across the country.
“Making certain children have the literacy skills they need to succeed is a matter of national importance,” says Joel Zarrow, CEO of CLI. “We know that great teachers can make a great difference. We are thrilled to be recognized by the Library of Congress for our impact working with teachers in low-income schools.”
Proven Leaders with School-Based Expertise
Founded in 1988, CLI is a national non-profit that provides educators with coaching and training in the most effective practices for early literacy instruction for prekindergarten through third grade. Our workshops and institutes build teachers’ understanding of literacy and the art and science of teaching children how to read and write.
Through one-on-one coaching, we focus on skills that improve over time and are not lost when administrations, buildings, or curricula change. CLI helps create a sustainable, school-wide culture of literacy that introduces students to the joys of reading, writing, and life-long learning.
As a two-time U.S. Department of Education Investing in Innovation (i3) awardee, CLI stands out for its demonstrated effectiveness. The David M Rubenstein Prize will be used to advance CLI’s three key development strategies, geographic replicability, digital innovation, and Pre-K expansion.
“CLl’s professional development focuses on research-based early literacy practices, coupled with significant in-classroom one-on-one coaching, helps our teachers turn great instructional concepts into great instruction, making a real difference for our children.”
Richard A. Carranza, Superintendent of Schools for the Houston Independent School District
“We greatly value CLl’s work and want to see CLl’s program replicated in more of our District’s elementary schools to ensure quality teaching in the early grades and increased student literacy achievement. This year, the elementary school that made the greatest gains across the District is supported by CLI. I am proud to count myself among the organization’s strongest supporters.”
Robert W. Runcie, the Superintendent of Schools for Broward County Florida
The Literacy Awards also encourage the continuing development of innovative methods for promoting literacy and the wide dissemination of the most effective practices. They are intended to draw public attention to the importance of literacy and the need to promote literacy and encourage reading.
“When teachers visit our literacy education site, learn.cli.org they’ll find that we’ve curated, and selected the best-of-the-best in literacy practices and put it all in one place. Through video we demonstrate these practices and we offer users the ability to ask questions on every page in the comments area. While we plan on participating in the site’s discussion areas, our intention is to build a community that helps one another, and ultimately adds to the content we’re providing.” said CLI’s Chief Academic Officer, Frank Grossman.
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