WHY DLI EXISTS

Publicly reported data at the local, state, and national levels consistently show that many Detroit students are performing below grade-level expectations in reading and writing. These literacy challenges are persistent and often compound over time, particularly when educators have trouble impacting student proficiency numbers.

The Detroit Literacy Initiative was created to support educators and schools by providing tools that improve clarity and instructional efficiency, especially around the structure of language.

WHAT DLI PROVIDES

The Detroit Literacy Initiative provides schools with literacy tools, at no cost, that support a clear progression from foundational skills to structured writing.

Literacy tools provided include:

• Word-building resources (root words, base words, prefixes, suffixes)
• Elements of a Sentence instructional posters
• Five-Paragraph Essay structure poster
• Literacy guides for K–12 which help to close the literacy gap.
• Literacy apps supporting word building, sentence development, and writing organization

Together, these tools help students understand how words form sentences, sentences form paragraphs, and paragraphs form organized writing.

HOW DLI SUPPORTS INSTRUCTION

The Detroit Literacy Initiative is designed to strengthen literacy instruction by:

• Making language structure easier to understand
• Reducing cognitive load for students
• Improving consistency across classrooms and homes
• Supporting instructional efficiency without adding requirements
• Helping ELA programs to maintains consistency for substitute teachers

The initiative does not replace curriculum, introduce assessments, or require instructional changes.

WHO DLI SERVES

Primary focus:

• Grades K–8, with particular attention to students with identified reading deficiencies

Secondary access:

• Grades 9–12, through school-wide poster placement and access to literacy apps

Participation is voluntary and determined at the district and school level.