Assessing School District of Philadelphia Student Literacy Performance in Grades K 3

LUNCH AND LEARNSYSTEMS
Written By Simone Partridge

How does the School District of Philadelphia measure early literacy skills?

Tune in as Molly Schlesinger, PhD, Senior Research Associate with the Office of Research and Evaluation, walks us through District assessment tools including including the STAR Assessment, early literacy 2021-2022 performance, and where to find District early literacy data. 

Where to find Philly’s early literacy data

We’ve rounded up public data sources about early literacy. So whether you’re a parent, caring citizen, community group, or organization, Philly’s early literacy data is a little closer to your fingertips.

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Want stronger readers? Support the people teaching them.
Want stronger readers? Support the people teaching them.

Strong readers start with strong teachers. Here’s what it will take to build a stronger teacher pipeline in Philadelphia.

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Comics are drawing kids into reading in Eastwick
Comics are drawing kids into reading in Eastwick

With support from the Neighborhood Literacy Fund, Dr. Sheena Howard’s comic-making workshops gave kids a chance to read, write and tell their own stories.

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Phonics gets kids reading, unconstrained skills help them make meaning
Phonics gets kids reading, unconstrained skills help them make meaning

Some reading skills have a finish line. Others keep growing. Dr. Munro Richardson explains why they both matter.

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What Historic Fair Hill's garden can teach us about growing lifelong readers
What Historic Fair Hill's garden can teach us about growing lifelong readers

Martina Barbour knows literacy doesn't just live between two book covers. It lives in the soil, shared songs, and the questions kids ask on the walk home.

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Who gets to read in America? 250 years of literacy
Who gets to read in America? 250 years of literacy

As America turns 250, one promise still hasn't reached every child: the right to read.

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Want more dads involved in literacy? Start by inviting them
Want more dads involved in literacy? Start by inviting them

Stop asking why dads aren’t showing up. Start asking what we can change to make sure they feel welcomed.

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Positive racial identity development is a literacy strategy we can't ignore
Positive racial identity development is a literacy strategy we can't ignore

Before a child can learn to read, they have to believe their story belongs on the page.

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Research vs. Reality: Reading Tutoring in Philadelphia
Research vs. Reality: Reading Tutoring in Philadelphia

What does effective reading tutoring look like in Philadelphia? Researcher Kendall LaParo explores the gap between evidence-based practice and the real-world challenges of helping students learn to read.

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Toya Algarin sees grandmothers as a way through Philadelphia’s literacy crisis
Toya Algarin sees grandmothers as a way through Philadelphia’s literacy crisis

Toya Algarin has a simple, radical idea: the best reading teachers may already be at home. And they might be grandmothers.

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The adult literacy crisis is a children's reading crisis. 
The adult literacy crisis is a children's reading crisis. 

When a parent can't read, a child notices. And that child is more likely to struggle too.

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Nail the Handout Handoff—How to Give Families Literacy Resources They’ll Actually Use
Nail the Handout Handoff—How to Give Families Literacy Resources They’ll Actually Use

Your words matter just as much as your materials.

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Who gets to be seen as a reader? The hidden barriers facing Black children with dyslexia
Who gets to be seen as a reader? The hidden barriers facing Black children with dyslexia

Dyslexia doesn’t discriminate. Identification often does.

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The Anatomy of a Reader: This Simple Graphic Will Change How You See Literacy
The Anatomy of a Reader: This Simple Graphic Will Change How You See Literacy

This graphic makes the science of reading clear and helps families, schools, and communities speak the same language.

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How did Philly lose its school librarians?
How did Philly lose its school librarians?

Philadelphia once had nearly 200 school librarians, now it has two. This is how the city lost them and how we can bring them back.

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Rally for Readers: Highlights from Read by 4th’s 2025 Partner Network Meeting
Rally for Readers: Highlights from Read by 4th’s 2025 Partner Network Meeting

In a night of celebration and action, Read by 4th partners came together to fight for every child’s right to read.

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For Reading Captain Jazmine Taylor, literacy is about legacy
For Reading Captain Jazmine Taylor, literacy is about legacy

From struggling reader to community leader, Jazmine is making sure more children have the support they need to thrive.

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Adult Literacy Programs in Philadelphia: Where to Find Help and How to Support
Adult Literacy Programs in Philadelphia: Where to Find Help and How to Support

We can’t talk about the early literacy crisis without being real about something else: the adult literacy crisis.

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September is National Literacy Month. Philly, let’s celebrate reading.
September is National Literacy Month. Philly, let’s celebrate reading.

Here are 5 ways you can support Philly's young readers this National Literacy Month.

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Sensory Smarts for Education Advocates: Tools to Beat Burnout
Sensory Smarts for Education Advocates: Tools to Beat Burnout

Self-care isn't just wellness, it’s the foundation of sustainable healthy advocacy. Caring for ourselves helps us better care for others.

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Free posters to advocate for Philly's young readers
Free posters to advocate for Philly's young readers

Want to rally for Philly’s young readers? Download our free posters and help push for policies that fuel early literacy success.

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What we heard from Read by 4th’s 2025 Partner Experience Survey
What we heard from Read by 4th’s 2025 Partner Experience Survey

Your voices are shaping the future of Philly’s early literacy movement.

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6 Sidewalk Chalk Games to Supercharge Summer Reading
6 Sidewalk Chalk Games to Supercharge Summer Reading

Chalk isn’t just for doodles. It’s a fun way to build reading skills all summer long!

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How John Moffet School is Raising Readers
How John Moffet School is Raising Readers

Moffet School is rewriting the script on reading with structured literacy, family engagement, and a whole-child approach.

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Ways to get started as a Reading Captain
Ways to get started as a Reading Captain

Reading Captains, you’ve got the trust, the heart, and the know-how. Here are a few simple, powerful ways to spread a love of literacy.

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Literacy as Liberation: Black Reading Traditions Then & Now
Literacy as Liberation: Black Reading Traditions Then & Now

Literacy is a right, but it hasn’t always been protected. Check out this Lunch & Learn exploring the history of Black literacy in America and the lessons we can carry into our present and future.

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Lead with heart—use these prompts to turn values into action
Lead with heart—use these prompts to turn values into action

Use these reflection questions as a strategic tool to help bring our shared values off to life.

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Read by 4th Glossary: Key Literacy Terms You Gotta Know
Read by 4th Glossary: Key Literacy Terms You Gotta Know

The literacy world is packed with big, fancy words—but we’re not about that. Here’s a no-fluff guide to the key terms that matter to Philly’s early literacy movement.

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Understanding the School District of Philadelphia’s New ELA Curriculum
Understanding the School District of Philadelphia’s New ELA Curriculum

How are our children being taught to read? We spoke with District leaders to find out.

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Yes, these reading quirks are totally normal!
Yes, these reading quirks are totally normal!

Chewing on books? Reading backward? Obsessed with one story? These quirky reading habits might seem strange, but they’re actually signs your child is learning.

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Insights from the Neighborhood Literacy Fund: What We’ve Learned About Fighting the Literacy Crisis Through Community-driven Solutions
Insights from the Neighborhood Literacy Fund: What We’ve Learned About Fighting the Literacy Crisis Through Community-driven Solutions

We partnered with Fors Marsh to evaluate how our community literacy grant model, influenced by participatory and trust-based philanthropy, is working.

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Simone Partridge
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