| Abstract: |
Literacy shapes how children learn, think, and engage with the world, and it significantly influences their future success far beyond school. However, 77% of third graders in Kansas City, Missouri, are not proficient in English language arts (ELA), and at least 290,000 adults in the Greater Kansas City region currently struggle with basic literacy skills. These numbers represent more than a learning gap; they signal systemic inequity that limits access to higher education, career opportunities, and economic mobility. SchoolSmart Kansas City (SchoolSmartKC), a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating student growth and proficiency for Kansas City, Missouri, students, recognized that improving literacy could not be treated as an isolated school-by-school issue or solved by short-term interventions. In 2024, the organization launched Literacy for All Students (LFAS), an ambitious, citywide initiative aimed at unifying Kansas City's fragmented education landscape under a shared, evidence-based literacy vision. LFAS is a coordinated initiative that brings together families, educators, funders, and community partners to ensure every child in Kansas City is proficient in ELA by third grade. This case study explores how SchoolSmartKC harnessed the complementary strengths of families, educators, funders, and community partners to align resources with community needs and build trust, creating an initiative that is both equitable and sustainable. The LFAS series includes three separate case studies focused on a different aspect of the initiative. Together, they provide a comprehensive view of how Kansas City stakeholders are working together to improve literacy outcomes. The series also offers insights for practitioners, funders, and policymakers seeking to understand and replicate evidence-based, locally driven approaches to literacy improvement. |