The Schools Foundation supports our schools in the initiative to implement steps to improve the reading proficiency of kindergarten to third grade students and ensure that our students can read at or above grade level by the end of the third grade. Our schools are committed to providing high-quality instruction that will prepare all students wi​th the literacy skills needed to meet or exceed grad​e-level standards. The Early Literacy Engagement program provides teachers with additional high quality reading instruction training to enable children to become confident and skilled readers. This program is aligned with the Alabama Literacy Act which was established to improve reading proficiency of public-school kindergarten through third grade students.