Read On Arizona Launches LitHubAZ, a New Online Source for Evidence-Based Literacy Strategies

LitHubAZ is a free, searchable online tool that offers a variety of evidence-based resources to support the language and literacy development of children from birth to grade 12, including struggling readers, English learners, and students exhibiting characteristics of dyslexia.

Research shows that, with the right instruction, intervention and support, 95% of all children can learn to read at grade level. But only 39% of Arizona’s third graders passed the most recent English Language Arts Assessment, which encompasses reading, language, and writing.

“Improving student outcomes in Arizona requires the commitment to provide evidence-based, high-quality instruction, interventions, and supports that are proven to help children develop the language and literacy skills they need to be successful in school,” said Arizona Literacy Director Terri Clark, who leads the work of Read On Arizona. “We developed LitHubAZ as a source for what works.”

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust is a founding partner and lead funder of Read On Arizona.

“Read On Arizona brings partners together to focus on what works,” said Steve Zabilski, president and CEO of Piper Trust. “LitHubAZ is another product of what has been an incredibly important, successful initiative for the Trust and our state.”

Tools and Resources

The evidence-based literacy tools and strategies available on LitHubAZ include:

• Effective Literacy Practices—Literacy standards and proven instructional strategies to support children from early childhood through high school.
• High-Quality Instructional Materials—A tool to support LEAs in finding evidence-based core reading, intervention, and supplemental programs.
• AZ Chronic Absence Resource Guide—A framework of proven strategies to reduce chronic absence and boost school attendance.
• MapLIT—Arizona’s comprehensive data tool for interactive mapping and reports on key data sets that impact school readiness and early literacy.
• Smart Talk—Easy ways for parents and caregivers of babies and toddlers to build early literacy skills, available in English and Spanish.
• Move On When Reading—What families should know about Arizona’s policy that helps schools provide effective K-3 reading instruction and interventions for struggling readers.
• Dyslexia Resource Guide—Step-by-step, bilingual information for families to work with schools and help their child improve their reading skills.

“LitHubAZ is a searchable, user-friendly tool for everyone who plays a role in helping our children learn to read,” said Clark. “For every age and grade, there are effective ways to help kids develop foundational literacy skills and make progress toward proficiency.”

The Science of Reading

The information provided in LitHubAZ is derived from decades of research into how skilled reading develops—often referred to as “the science of reading”—and how to most effectively support children in learning to read, including a list of seminal studies compiled by the Arizona Department of Education as part of its high-quality literacy review process. 

Emphasizing more than just phonics and decoding, structured literacy instruction based in the science of reading simultaneously develops comprehension, vocabulary, and background knowledge simultaneously with the development of word recognition. All the foundational skills must be woven together so that children can make meaning from the words they read.

“Evidence-based reading instruction and interventions work for all students, including English learners and students exhibiting characteristics of dyslexia,” said Sean Ross, executive director of the State Board of Education. “We encourage everyone to look to LitHubAZ as a source for what works to support student achievement.”