September is National Literacy Month across the country, and at the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, literacy is at the heart of shaping our students’ futures. We continue to build on our strong foundation and remain committed to ensuring every student has the skills and confidence to succeed as a reader, writer, and lifelong learner.
Launched in the 2023 - 2024 school year, our Reading is Key initiative celebrates and recognizes literacy leaders among students, staff, and teachers who demonstrate exceptional commitment to fostering a love of reading. This program honors students for their excellent reading achievements and spotlights those who inspire others, create engaging literacy experiences, and open doors to limitless opportunities through the power of reading.
Honoring Our Past. Shaping the Future.
We’ve made significant strides since we deepened our focus on literacy improvement several years ago. From preschool to high school, MPUSD students are engaging with research-based, high-quality literacy curriculum. We are seeing encouraging gains, especially in early reading proficiency, comprehension, and confidence in literacy skills. These improvements reflect our belief that literacy is more than just an academic milestone, it’s the gateway to opportunity.
A Brief History
International Literacy Day was first celebrated in 1967, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In 2025, it will be recognized worldwide on Monday, September 8 as a reminder that literacy is a fundamental human right and a driver of lifelong opportunity.
Why Early Literacy Matters
Research shows that students who read and comprehend in early childhood are better equipped to understand more complex subjects later in life. As the Institute of Education Sciences notes, “Students who read with understanding at an early age gain access to a broader range of texts, knowledge, and educational opportunities.”
Our Literacy Commitment
MPUSD is part of California’s statewide effort to ensure all students read at or above grade level by the end of third grade by 2026. We’re achieving this by:
- Providing consistent, standards-aligned curriculum from preschool through grade 12
- Focusing on phonics mastery and reading fluency in early grades
- Partnering with state agencies and nonprofit organizations to enhance literacy programs
- Offering specialized support for neurodivergent students and those with disabilities
Our current literacy curriculum includes:
- Infants–TK: Creative Curriculum
- K-3: Building Reading Success (Tier II)
- TK - 6: Benchmark Advance (Benchmark Education)
- 7 - 8: Amplify (Amplify Education)
- 6 - 12: English 3D (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
- 9 - 10: Into Literature (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
- 10 - 12: Public Speaking: Concepts and Skills for a Diverse Society
- 11 - 12: Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum (ERWC)
How Families Can Support Literacy at Home
- Be a reading role model
- Encourage reading anything, including books, street signs, menus, or packaging
- Host a family reading night
- Create a home bookshelf
- Encourage older siblings to read to younger siblings
- Swap screen time for book time
Looking Ahead
We are proud of our progress, but our work continues. By honoring the progress of recent years and shaping a future where every student can read with confidence, we are creating a stronger foundation for success in school, career, and life.
