Philadelphia teachers back in class for new literacy effort

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Students are out on summer break, but teachers in the School District of Philadelphia are busy preparing for next school year.

700 School District teachers and principals are attending a week-long intensive training session that focuses on early literacy.

The training is part of a $30 million collective investment to improve literacy education for the 48,000 Philadelphia children in kindergarten through third grade.

The effort focuses on three key areas: teacher training, on-site job support from trained instructional coaches, and in-class libraries to provide better resources for students.

Over the next three years, 2,000 K-3 teachers will attend the workshops like those being held this week at Martin Luther King High School.

The Lenfest Foundation committed $4.5 million and the William Penn Foundation committed $6 million to support the literacy effort.

The School District has started a public campaign to raise $3.4 million dollars in matching funds.

That money will aid in providing in-class libraries in every elementary school in Philadelphia.

This literacy effort will advance a city-wide initiative called the READ by 4th! Campaign, an effort to ensure all students receive the support to read on grade level by the fourth grade.