Early Literacy Partners

“The path to raising student achievement is not a direct line from funding to outcome. High levels of student achievement will result only when core instructional practices are defined and educator and system supports are in place to contribute to literacy success for every student.” – A Leader’s Guide to a Theory of Action for Raising Michigan’s Early Literacy Achievement”

Teaching children to read
is no easy task
This two-part primer shows why

That's why the HIL Project works with Early Literacy partners to bring resources, training, coaching and workshops to schools throughout Michigan with one goal in mind: to support teachers and principals in implementing research-supported “Literacy Essentials” that will improve literacy skills of all students.

General Education Leadership Network (GELN) Early Literacy Task Force

HIL Project early literacy work is grounded in the "Literacy Essentials" identified by Michigan’s Early Literacy Task Force—a sub-committee of the Michigan Association of School Administrators (MAISA) General Education Leadership Network (GELN)

These “Literacy Essentials” include:

Essential Instructional Practices (PreK , K-3, 4-5, 6-12 ) recommended for use in every classroom every day
Essential School-Wide and Center-Wide Practices in every school and center, and
Essential Coaching Practices in use by every coach...and more!

Reading Now Network

The HIL project school leadership work has roots in an initiative by our key leadership partner, the Reading Now Network. The RNN comprises a group of West Michigan school superintendents determined to improve student reading levels by working together to build a school leadership model around the practices they observed in high-performing schools. This grant supports the Reading Now Network vision: high functioning schools that empower all children as competent and motivated readers.

Other Early Literacy Partners

Michigan Department of Education

We work closely with Early Literacy professionals at the Michigan Department of Education to align the HIL Process to the MDE MI-CIP process and the principles of educating the Whole Child through student engagement and social-emotional learning.

Participating Intermediate School Districts and Educational Service Agencies

Our ISD and ESA partners are critical to the success of the HIL Project model, and we work closely with Literacy Coaches in each organization. Our goal is to help ISDs/ESAs develop the capacity to sustain support for the HIL School Renewal process beyond year 5 of the WMU SEED grant.

Nell K. Duke

Michigan's own Nell K. Duke of the University of Michigan has been named one of the most influential education scholars in the U.S. by EdWeek. We are grateful for her scholarship and contributions to our events.