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Strong literacy skills are foundational to student success in every subject area and to long-term opportunity. Across Vermont, schools are working to respond to varied student needs, changing expectations, and persistent gaps in student outcomes. Literacy is not just a school issue; it is connected to equity, community, workforce readiness, and civic life.

What does it mean for a student to be a strong reader?

Strong reading involves more than sounding out words. Students need word recognition, fluency, vocabulary, background knowledge, language comprehension, motivation, and the ability to make meaning from increasingly complex texts. Effective literacy instruction attends to the whole reader, not just a single score or skill.

Why do some students continue to struggle with reading?

Reading is complex, and students may struggle for different reasons. Some need support with decoding or fluency, while others need help with vocabulary, comprehension, attention, confidence, or background knowledge. Schools need strong systems for assessment, instruction, intervention, and progress monitoring so students receive the right support at the right time.

What is Partnerships for Literacy and Learning?

Partnerships for Literacy and Learning, or PLL, is a Vermont-based nonprofit that works alongside schools and districts to strengthen literacy instruction, improve systems, and support educators. Our work is grounded in research, practical classroom experience, and a commitment to equitable outcomes for students.

What makes PLL different from a program or curriculum provider?

PLL does not sell a packaged program or quick fix. We partner with schools to understand their specific strengths, needs, and goals. Then we help educators and leaders build the knowledge, systems, and instructional practices needed to improve literacy outcomes over time.

What kinds of support does PLL provide?

PLL provides embedded coaching, professional learning, needs assessments, leadership support, instructional planning, data analysis, intervention support, and systems consultation. Our work is customized to each school or district and designed to build long-term capacity.

How does PLL measure impact?

PLL looks at impact across multiple levels, including teacher knowledge, instructional practice, leadership capacity, collaboration, student engagement, and student literacy outcomes. Depending on the project, we may use surveys, interviews, classroom observations, coaching notes, implementation tools, and student assessment data.

Why does PLL focus on systems, not just individual teachers?

Teachers matter tremendously, but they cannot improve literacy outcomes alone. Strong literacy outcomes require aligned curriculum, useful assessments, effective intervention, collaboration time, leadership support, and shared expectations. PLL helps schools build the conditions that allow excellent teaching to take root and grow.

What is embedded professional learning?

Embedded professional learning happens within the real work of teaching and leading. Rather than relying only on one-time workshops, educators learn through coaching, planning, observation, feedback, reflection, and application in their own classrooms and schools.

Is PLL coaching evaluative?

No. PLL coaching is not teacher evaluation. It is a collaborative, growth-oriented process designed to support professional learning, strengthen instruction, and improve student outcomes. Trust, reflection, and partnership are central to effective coaching.

How can a school or district partner with PLL?

The first step is a conversation. PLL works with schools and districts to understand their goals, current needs, and possible areas of support. From there, we design a plan that is practical, focused, and aligned with local priorities.

Our Current Go-To Resources

Tools We Use

Check back soon for resources and tools we use in schools.

Voices From The Field

Milton Middle School Teacher

"Our PLL Literacy consultant is a master in the field of literacy and shared this knowledge in a kind and meaningful manner, elevating the work we are doing as teachers of literacy and creating a common language for how we talk about our readers, their needs, and goals. "

- Milton Middle School Teacher

Barton Academy Teacher

"Our PLL consultant did an excellent job—she clearly understood our perspectives and engaged meaningfully with our team."

- Barton Academy Teacher

Milton Middle School Teacher

"I regularly use the learning from PLL in my practice, from activities to profiles and assessments. "

- Milton Middle School Teacher

Milton Elementary School

"This profile work has been really wonderful, looking forward to seeing how it all works when we pilot it next year."

- Milton Elementary School

Carl Anderson Event Participant

"The presenter is extremely personable and knowledgeable about the subject matter, and used videos of student/class conferences strategically and in an engaging way. "