3Ls: Breaking Cycles of Illiteracy One Neighborhood at a Time

Guest post by Dr. Sabrina Moore, Executive Director of 3Ls The Academy

In Oakland, California, where only 13% of Black and Brown children read at grade level, 3Ls The Academy is proving what’s possible when we reimagine literacy education through a lens of justice and community power.

Founded by Oakland-born educator Dr. Sabrina “Bri” Moore, 3Ls The Academy (Literacy, Leadership & Liberation) promotes collective responsibility across schools and differences to realize our vision of communities where learning, literacy and leadership are interconnected towards liberation.

A Community-Centered Model That Works

Our “whole-neighborhood” approach delivers remarkable results:

• The majority of our students consistently pass mastery assessments, outperforming district averages
• 98% of 3Ls families report stronger connections to their neighborhood schools
• 94% of students show substantial growth in foundational skills reading proficiency, with many advancing multiple grade levels
• Students demonstrate accelerated progress in closing literacy gaps

These outcomes emerge from our integrated model working across five key programs:

• Literacy Hub: Virtual tier 2 instruction with referred students
• The Commons Homework Club: In-person homework support with literacy specialists
• Family Reading Club: Building adult capacity to support literacy strategies
• Tune Up Tuesdays: Professional development for teachers
• Leadership Coaching: Supporting school site leaders

Radical Literacy: A New Framework for Change

3Ls implements “Radical Literacy” – a community-led model for eradicating disproportionate literacy outcomes for Black and Brown students. This approach:

1. Creates anti-racist learning cultures to improve student literacy, leadership and liberation
2. Builds capacity across the system – ensuring educators, leaders, and communities have skills to create improved outcomes
3. Centers student and family voices – recognizing that schools improve when we listen to and act on input from Black and Brown students and families

Impact and Growth

Serving multiple schools across Oakland, 3Ls demonstrates what’s possible when we invest in community-driven solutions. Our growing network of students, educators, and community members proves the power of collective action in transforming literacy outcomes. With demonstrated success in our initial neighborhood, we’re now ready to scale this proven model to reach more communities.

Our vision is clear: a world where schools become safe, fun, and inclusive spaces for Black and Brown children to thrive, where school systems truly partner with communities, and where ultimately, 3Ls The Academy is no longer needed because we have achieved just and equitable schools for all.

As Dr. Moore (pictured left) says, “This isn’t about empowering communities – they already have the power. This is about ceding power to families and providing the resources, systems and structures that let them lead the transformation of literacy outcomes in their own neighborhoods.”

The opportunity to support this transformation is now. Together, we can ensure every child’s fundamental right to read is fulfilled, one neighborhood at a time.