Pathways to Early Literacy: A Partnership with Rice University
Every child deserves the opportunity to enter school ready to learn, grow, and succeed. Yet in the Houston region, only 59% of incoming kindergartners meet early literacy and numeracy standards, and just half of tested students in grades three through 12 achieve grade-level reading proficiency. These challenges begin early, making high-quality early childhood instruction more important than ever.
To help address this critical need, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation is proud to announce Pathways to Early Literacy, a new three-year partnership with the School Literacy & Culture program at Rice University's Glasscock School of Continuing Studies.
The initiative invests in preschool and kindergarten educators serving Houston's youngest and most vulnerable children. Through evidence-based professional development, instructional coaching, and classroom resources, teachers gain practical strategies to strengthen oral language development, expand vocabulary, increase student engagement, and build strong foundations for reading success.
Early results are encouraging. In spring 2026, 26 educators from 16 schools across nine Houston-area school districts completed the inaugural cohort, reaching 572 students. 96% reported a significant or extremely positive effect on their ability to support oral language development, 88% observed language growth in their students, and 100% reported stronger student engagement.
Research on brain development and early learning underscores the importance of early education as a key factor in driving student reading achievement and long-term success to on-time graduation and life outcomes.
We invite you to watch the accompanying video and hear directly from educators who are already putting these strategies into practice.
Together, we are building stronger pathways to literacy—one classroom, one teacher, and one child at a time.
Pathways to Early Literacy Will Provide:
Professional development for preschool and kindergarten educators
Evidence-based instructional strategies grounded in the Science of Reading
Individualized coaching and implementation support
Classroom resources to strengthen oral language development
Opportunities for educators to collaborate and share best practices
Improved outcomes for young learners across Greater Houston