Tampa, FL – Hillsborough Education Foundation (HEF) announced a $1.08 million grant from Helios Education Foundation to launch the next phase of the Transforming Early Literacy Initiative (TELI), a partnership with Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) focused on strengthening early literacy instruction and improving reading outcomes for students across Hillsborough County’s Transformation Elementary Schools.
The three-year investment will support the expansion of the TELI initiative launched by HEF, HCPS and Helios in 2022. Over the past four years, TELI has grown to serve educators and students in 16 of the highest needs schools in the district, providing job-embedded literacy coaching, professional learning, and instructional support. Participating schools have experienced meaningful gains, with average kindergarten proficiency increasing from nine percent in Year one to 57 percent by the end of Year four.
“TELI has shown us what is possible when philanthropy, our public school system and the community come together around a shared challenge,” said Anna Corman, President and CEO of Hillsborough Education Foundation. “We have seen encouraging gains in our youngest learners, and we have also learned how important it is to sustain that progress beyond kindergarten. This next phase allows us to build on what is working and create a stronger pathway toward our ultimate goal: more students reading proficiently by the end of third grade.”
The TELI initiative will expand from 16 schools to 31 HCPS elementary schools and extend its focus from PreK and kindergarten through second grade. The expanded initiative will continue to strengthen educator practice and early literacy instruction while creating greater alignment across the early grades and building the capacity to sustain this work over time.
“Helios invests in promising solutions that remove barriers to educational success and create lasting change for students,” said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation. “The progress Hillsborough Education Foundation and Hillsborough County Public Schools have made through TELI demonstrates what is possible when we strengthen teaching and learning from the very beginning. By expanding this work to more schools and across the early grades, we have an opportunity to build on what is working and help more students develop the strong foundation they need to read proficiently by the end of third grade.”
The expansion represents a continued shared commitment from HEF, HCPS and Helios to improving early literacy outcomes for Hillsborough County students. Together, the partners are building on the lessons and results of TELI’s first four years while strengthening the systems and supports needed to help more students develop a strong foundation for future learning.
“The progress achieved through TELI shows the impact of investing in our teachers and beginning literacy support in the earliest grades,” said Van Ayres, superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools. “Expanding this work from 16 to 31 elementary schools will allow us to reach more students, strengthen instruction across the early grades and continue building toward our goal of having every student reading proficiently by the end of third grade.”
The TELI expansion represents a total three-year investment of approximately $3.95 million, supported collectively by Helios Education Foundation, Hillsborough County Public Schools, and Hillsborough Education Foundation. Helios’ $1.08 million investment builds upon its original $1.35 million commitment to TELI in 2022 and reflects the partners’ continued investment in strengthening early literacy instruction and creating lasting impact for Hillsborough County students.
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About Hillsborough Education Foundation
Established in 1987, Hillsborough Education Foundation (HEF) is a nonprofit focused on strengthening public education by supporting teachers and empowering students to achieve academic and personal success. Together with our community partners, HEF strategically invests in initiatives that impact teaching quality, increase graduation rates, and build equity in education—bolstering a thriving workforce of tomorrow and the sustainable prosperity of Tampa Bay. Learn more at EducationFoundation.com.
About Helios Education Foundation
Helios Education Foundation exists to support postsecondary attainment for all students in Arizona and Florida, with an emphasis on low-income and historically underrepresented communities. Driven by the fundamental beliefs of community, equity, investment, and partnership, Helios has invested more than $350 million in partnerships and initiatives focused on improving education outcomes in the two states it serves. Learn more at helios.org.
About Hillsborough County Public Schools
Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) is the seventh-largest school district in the United States and one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay region, serving 200,000 students across 233 schools and educational programs. Through strong community partnerships, innovative learning experiences, and a focus on student achievement, safety, and well-being, HCPS works to ensure all students have access to the resources and support they need to reach their full potential. For more information, visit https://www.hillsboroughschools.org.
For more information, visit hillsboroughschools.org and follow @HillsboroughSch on all social platforms.
