The school community is an integral part of the instructional experience and includes everyone who impacts learning, such as non-instructional school staff, business partners, and community members. These stakeholders provide a bridge between school-based learning and authentic experiences in the community to strengthen literacy. Community members foster literacy growth by

• Embracing the culture of literacy and lifelong learning when interacting with students and while in schools

• Attending and/or supporting school-based literacy events

• Collaborating with school personnel to support literacy instruction through each respective community role

• Forging partnerships with community members that enhance our students’ literacy experiences through internships, guest speakers, volunteering in schools, reading with students, mentoring programs, etc.

• Advocating for literacy-rich experiences in the classroom and beyond