World Language Reading Challenge
Information about the annual World Language Reading Challenge for students, parents, and educators.The World Language Reading Challenge is an annual event taking place during National World Language Week in March. The World Language Reading Challenge was developed in partnership with the California Language Teachers’ Association (CLTA).
Information about the 2026 World Language Reading Challenge will be posted during the 2025–26 school year.
To participate in this program and recognize students, please review the optional criteria and resources and submit an online participation form, available under the “Toolkit and Forms” tab below.Overview
The World Language Reading Challenge is an optional event and participation is voluntary. Local educational agencies (LEAs) may customize the criteria to fit their local needs and to ensure the criteria reflects their program goals.
The California Department of Education (CDE) will provide guidance and certificate templates as resources. LEAs may choose to use or modify the materials provided. No student information is required to be submitted to the CDE to participate. LEAs may keep records locally. The CLTA provides a World Language Reading Challenge Toolkit that includes optional templates and resources that LEAs may use or adapt.
Students may earn the World Language Reading Challenge Certificate in any world language other than English.
World Language Reading Challenge
What
In collaboration with the CDE, the CLTA Underrepresented Language Special Interest Group invites you to participate in the World Language Reading Challenge through reading various authentic texts in the target language.
Who
All California preschool through grade 12 (P–12) world language and multilingual programs.
When
National World Language Week, March 2–8, 2025
Where
At the school site with students enrolled in world language or multilingual programs.
Goals
- To provide language and multilingual programs with recognition from the CDE for encouraging students to improve literacy by reading in the target language
- To celebrate the achievement of the students
- To celebrate the success of the school’s world language or multilingual program
- To celebrate student success
- To engage with authentic materials in the target language
- To discover cross-cultural connections
- To promote community building in the classroom and beyond
- To encourage cross-cultural interactions across language programs at the school site
- To increase students’ motivation to learn the target language
- To create a positive attitude toward the language and culture
- To have fun reading
- To promote literacy fluency
- To put the World Languages Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten through Grade Twelve (PDF) into action
Equity
It is important to ensure that all students have access to the World Language Reading Challenge including underserved populations and students with disabilities. All students, including English learners, students with disabilities, and English learners with disabilities, can benefit from opportunities to develop multiliteracy.
For more information on serving English learners with disabilities see the CDE California Practitioners’ Guide for Educating English Learners with Disabilities(PDF).
For more information on parent and family engagement, see the CDE Parent/Family web page.Resources
World Language Reading Challenge Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
World Language Reading Challenge Guidelines
Overview of the World Language Reading Challenge and suggested guidelines for implementing a World Language Reading Challenge program at the school or district.
Additional resources are available in the CLTA Underrepresented Languages Special Interest Group Toolkit available under the “Toolkit and Forms” tab.
California Department of Education (CDE) Resources
CDE Multilingual Education web page
CDE World Languages Standards web page
CDE World Languages Framework web page
Participation Data
Participation data will be posted annually on this tab. The World Language Reading Challenge was established in 2022–23.
Local educational agencies (LEAs) interested in participating in the program may submit a World Language Reading Challenge Participation Form (available under the Toolkit and Forms tab) annually to be included in the data posted here.
2025 World Language Reading Challenge Participation Data (XLSX)
A total of 2,081 students participated in the World Language Reading Challenge in 2025.
2024 World Language Reading Challenge Participation Data (XLSX)
A total of 8,002 students participated in the World Language Reading Challenge in 2024.
2023 World Language Reading Challenge Participation Data (XLSX)
A total of 2,046 students participated in the World Language Reading Challenge in 2023.
Toolkit & Forms
World Language Reading Challenge Participation Form
World Language Reading Challenge Participation Form
Local educational agencies (LEAs) may fill out this online form to participate in the World Language Reading Challenge and to request the World Language Reading Challenge certificate template. This form may be completed before, during, or after the challenge. Please submit this form by March 31, 2024, to be included in the participation data published in spring 2024.
Procedures
LEAs are asked to submit the online form that includes information on:
- The contact information for the requestor;
- The district and school(s) participating;
- The types of world language or multilingual programs in which students are enrolled;
- Whether any of the participating schools offer the Biliteracy Pathway Recognitions;
- The number of students in each grade level participating and the language(s) in which they are being recognized;
- The number of students being recognized with an Individualized Education Program; and
- The number of students being recognized who are current or former English learners (for kindergarten through grade 12 programs).