Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

Invitation to State Superintendent Thurmond's Literacy Leadership Summit (May 5, 2026)

We invite you to represent your local educational agency and join us for State Superintendent Tony Thurmond’s Literacy Leadership Summit on May 5, 2026, focused on strengthening and sustaining California’s Five-Year Literacy Plan at a critical moment of implementation. The event will be held at the California Department of Education, 1430 N Street, Sacramento, California 95814 from 1-3 p.m.

While California has made historic progress in establishing a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to literacy and biliteracy, current investments only partially support this work. Superintendent Thurmond’s California Literacy Investment Proposal: Phase II advances four interconnected priorities—K–2 literacy screening, high-impact tutoring, family literacy supports, and literacy coaching and professional learning—that are essential to accelerating student achievement and ensuring California students are reading proficiently by third grade and beyond.

This summit will bring together state leaders, philanthropic partners, and education partners to:

• Examine progress to date and persistent implementation challenges
• Discuss why coordinated investment across all four elements is critical
• Identify how strategic partnerships can help fully deliver on California’s literacy promise

Your perspective and experience would add significant value as we collectively consider what it will take to deepen investment, strengthen implementation, and achieve lasting statewide impact. Please register for the event at bit.ly/LiteracySummit26.

We hope you will join us and contribute to this important discussion.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction