Participation in the Literacy Collaborative^® represents a long term commitment to reshaping literacy education in a school or district. Implementation takes place in four phases. For each phase, local planning and decision making is required. The following list is accomplished with literacy coordinator support, school based literacy team input, and staff participation.

Phase 1 - Awareness and Planning

Investigate models for teaching and professional development

Achieve broad ownership

Develop a local plan

Submit an application

Phase 2 - Literacy Coordinator Training and Start Up

Train an in school leader called a literacy coordinator for primary and/or a literacy coordinator for intermediate grades, with each continuing to teach children at the appropriate level.

Create a school based literacy team made up of classroom teachers, a Reading Recovery^® teacher, Title 1 teacher, reading specialist, special education teacher, and principal who collaborate to provide leadership for the program.

Provide awareness sessions to capture teachers' interest.

Begin to build a school book collection.

Introduce personnel to the framework.

Collect baseline data.

Phase 3 - School Level Implementation

Provide a year long professional development course.

Provide demonstrations, coaching, and analysis of teaching.

Purchase more books for reading aloud, guided reading, and professional development.

Begin a home outreach program with the use of Keep Books.

Collect and analyze data.

Phase 4 - Refinement

Continue professional development

Provide ongoing support to staff members

Add to the book collections

Continue the home outreach program with the use of Keep Books

Collect and analyze date