The Los Angeles County Office of Education’s (LACOE) "Getting Reading Right" (GRR) initiative has been honored with the prestigious Golden Bell Award for 2024. This recognition from the California School Boards Association (CSBA) celebrates the outstanding efforts and achievements of the program in enhancing literacy rates across L.A. County schools.

Implemented with the support of a $5 million Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant (CLSD), the "Getting Reading Right" initiative has been pivotal in addressing one of the most fundamental skills for academic and life success: literacy. Since its inception, GRR has trained over 6,000 educators across the state in the science of reading research and structured literacy approaches, spanning both K-5 and 6-12 grade levels. This extensive training has equipped educators with the tools and methodologies needed to close achievement gaps and ensure that all students possess the foundational reading skills necessary for success across all subjects.

“LACOE’s Reading/Language Arts unit has always been immensely dedicated to improving students’ literacy rates but most importantly fostering a lifelong love for reading. This is a well-deserved recognition to an outstanding team,” said Dr. Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools.

LACOE’s Reading/Language Arts Unit (RLA) has been at the forefront of California's shift from balanced to structured literacy. This award is a testament to the unit’s dedication and hard work in the "Getting Reading Right" initiative. It highlights the transformative impact that explicit and systematic reading instruction implemented in an effective Tier 1 reading program can have on students' academic journeys and overall life success. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to everyone who has contributed to this remarkable achievement. 

The Golden Bell Awards Reception and Ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at the Anaheim Marriott hotel.

About LACOE’s RLA Unit

LACOE’s Reading/Language Arts unit provides support for schools and districts to close the achievement gap, and to achieve high standards of excellence in language arts. The RLA Unit is dedicated to improving literacy rates across the County using innovative techniques. To learn more, watch an Ed Buzz interview on the Science of Reading with Leslie Zoroya.

About the Golden Bell Awards

The CSBA Golden Bell Awards® promote excellence in education and school board governance by recognizing outstanding programs and governance practices of school boards in school districts and county offices of education throughout California. Golden Bell Awards reflect the depth and breadth of education programs and governance decisions supporting these programs that are necessary to address students’ changing needs.