OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — The Oklahoma State Chamber Research Foundation launched the Oklahoma Literacy Initiative on Tuesday, a statewide effort designed to improve early reading achievement through intensive teacher training, classroom coaching, and ongoing support grounded in the Science of Reading.
The inaugural pilot will partner with 10 school districts representing urban, midsize, and rural communities across Oklahoma: Beaver, Burns Flat-Dill City, Oklahoma City’s W.K. Jackson Leadership Academy, Tulsa, Okmulgee, Meeker, McAlester, Maysville, Ardmore, and Valliant.
Participating districts will identify literacy leaders to complete intensive training and serve as instructional coaches within their schools. Elementary teachers will also receive professional development, classroom modeling, mentoring, and practical resources throughout the school year.
Unlike one-time professional development programs, the initiative is designed to provide sustained implementation support. Organizers said the goal is to help educators translate evidence-based reading instruction into daily classroom practice while developing models that can be expanded to other Oklahoma schools.
“The Oklahoma Literacy Initiative is about creating lasting change, not simply delivering professional development,” said Jake Yunker, executive director of the Oklahoma State Chamber Research Foundation. “Our goal is to build sustainable systems that empower educators, strengthen instructional practice, and demonstrate how high-quality implementation of the Science of Reading can improve literacy outcomes for students.”
Independent researchers will establish baseline measures and evaluate student growth, instructional effectiveness, and implementation throughout the pilot. A cross-sector advisory board of education leaders, literacy experts, business executives, and community partners will also help guide the program.
The initiative is part of The State Chamber’s Oklahoma Competes vision, which focuses on strengthening the state’s long-term economic competitiveness. Organizers said stronger early literacy outcomes can improve Oklahoma’s education-to-workforce pipeline and prepare more students for academic and career success.
“Oklahoma’s future depends on the success of today’s students,” said Chad Warmington, president and CEO of The State Chamber. “Strong reading skills are the foundation for everything that follows, from academic achievement to workforce readiness and economic opportunity.”
