Hillsborough and Pinellas Connect to Improve Early Literacy
What neighboring counties in Florida can teach us about community-led solutions
Reading proficiency by the end of third grade is one of the strongest predictors of long-term student success, and one of the clearest indicators of whether communities are building strong, equitable education pathways from the very beginning. Early literacy and supporting students much earlier is critical to ensuring success along the education continuum.
Across Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, local leaders are stepping up with bold, data-informed strategies to ensure young learners have the foundational reading skills they need to thrive. Two such efforts, supported by Helios Education Foundation, are Pinellas Education Foundation’s Pinellas Early Literacy Initiative (PELI), and Hillsborough Education Foundation’s Transforming Early Literacy Initiative (TELI).
While each program is tailored to its local school community, both share a common goal: strengthening early literacy outcomes for young learners by supporting educators and using data to guide continuous improvement.
As these initiatives gain momentum across the Tampa Bay region, they are also surfacing valuable lessons about what it takes to improve literacy rates at scale—starting early, supporting educators, and aligning communities around shared outcomes.
Pinellas’ Community-Wide Focus on the Early Years
Launched in 2021 by the Pinellas Education Foundation and Pinellas County Schools, PELI strengthens PreK-2 instruction to ensure students are prepared for kindergarten and reading proficiently by the end of third grade.
To date, more than 350 educators have received coaching and mentoring, impacting more than 4,200 students. District data show third grade reading proficiency increased from 50% to 62% within a single year (2024-2025), with proficiency among students of color approaching 75%.
Hillsborough Addresses Literacy Inequities by Starting Sooner
In response to long-standing literacy disparities, Hillsborough Education Foundation launched the TELI in 2022 to strengthen PreK-Kindergarten instruction, where early literacy gaps emerge.
Implemented in 12 of the county’s highest-need elementary schools and serving approximately 3,000 students, TELI has driven significant gains: kindergarten performance increased from the 9th percentile to the 42nd percentile by Year 3, while PreK performance rose from the 12th to the 44th percentile. The number of TELI schools meeting kindergarten readiness benchmarks grew from just one site in Year 1 to seven sites by Year 3.
A Learning Exchange to Share and Improve Outcomes
Recently, leaders from both programs, practitioners, Helios and Equal Measure—a national evaluation firm that has partnered with TELI and PELI since the start of both investments—came together for a learning exchange designed to move beyond program updates and into shared learning across county lines. Over several years, teams have gathered feedback from coaches, teachers, and administrators to better understand how the initiatives are influencing literacy instruction and to make real-time improvements to program delivery. Rather than treating evaluation as a retrospective exercise, both initiatives have used it as a learning tool that supports reflection, adaptation, and continuous improvement.
Participants discussed what is working, where challenges persist, and which lessons may translate across districts. Together, they explored a shared vision for a student-centered, early literacy ecosystem grounded in strong community partnerships, aligned educator and coach preparation, and sustained investment—particularly for historically underrepresented students.
Several common themes emerged:
- The importance of school administrators' understanding and buy-in as a foundation for sustaining instructional change
- Expanding outreach beyond traditional school-based events; and
- Supporting families to integrate literacy strategies into daily routines.
Participants described the exchange as energizing and affirming, and an opportunity to connect with peers facing similar challenges and learn from one another’s approaches. Teams expressed a strong interest in maintaining connections across districts, sharing resources and tools, and exploring peer-to-peer collaboration.
The exchange reinforced Helios’ role not only as a funder but as a learning partner, supporting communities as they test, refine, and strengthen approaches to early literacy. It’s a powerful reminder that lasting change happens when local leaders learn together and act early. Insights from this learning exchange will inform support for current and future shared learning initiatives, including existing efforts to elevate early literacy work across Florida.