At Innovate, we don’t do our work from a distance. We live it. In our neighborhoods, in school board meetings, and in conversations with parents who are navigating systems that weren’t designed for them, our commitment to educational equity is more than policy — it’s personal.
This month, we’re heading back to Sacramento to demand that literacy be treated as what it is: a civil right. And we know that when parents lead, and when communities organize together, real change follows.
A previous State Capitol Action
We’re heading to the Capitol to demand literacy justice
On Wednesday, April 30, Innovate parent leaders will join coalition partners in Sacramento to show strong support of AB 1121, a bill that reflects what both research and our communities have long known: reading is foundational. But right now, far too many students, especially those in Black and Brown communities, are being left behind.
We know what works to teach kids to read, but what our kids actually get in school varies widely — which is what this bill seeks to shift.
This bill would:
- Require teacher training programs to include evidence-based reading instruction
- Ensure instructional materials align with decades of reading research
- Help close persistent literacy gaps for students of color, English learners, and students with learning differences
The ability to read has always been equivalent to power — and we’re going to use ours to make sure our kids can have theirs. We’ll be there with the California Early Literacy Coalition, a powerful network of 25+ organizations working to improve early reading outcomes. The bill will be heard by the Assembly Education Committee on April 30, so we’re calling on our supporters to fill the room and show that early literacy matters. It’s a big moment, and we know from experience that showing up in numbers matters.
Innovate will join the California Kids Read Coalition at the state capital to advocate for improved literacy through teacher professional development and evidence-based reading instruction and materials.
This isn’t new for us
Advocating at the Capitol – and showing up at school board meetings, partnering with District officials, or conducting research meetings with local and State legislators across California – is part of Innovate’s DNA. For years, we’ve stood with parents and partners to push for equitable funding, stronger SPED supports, and access to high-quality tutoring aimed at increasing kids’ reading and math outcomes.
This hearing is no different. When we speak up together, we shift outcomes. And we send a clear message about the future our children deserve: one where every student has the tools they need to reach their full potential.
Innovate will be back at the Capitol this week.
Gratitude for our partners in advocacy
We also want to extend a huge thank you to our partners at the California Afterschool Advocacy Alliance (CA3) – especially the California School-Age Consortium (CalSAC) and the Partnership for Children and Youth (PCY) – for their leadership in hosting this year’s California Afterschool and Summer Challenge.
This is a powerful annual event that uplifts the needs of the out-of-school-time field. In March, more than 400 advocates, including Innovate parent leaders and staff, marched to the State Capitol for a rally, legislative visits, and meaningful conversations with decision-makers about the future of expanded learning in California.
Thanks to the persistent efforts of this coalition and our partners, the California legislature continues to prioritize funding for high-quality afterschool programs, including the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P).
Thank you, as always, for standing with us. We’ll keep showing up, and we’re grateful you’re right there with us.
With appreciation,
Michelle
