What We Do

The University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI – pronounced “you fly”) is an ongoing effort by UF faculty and students to improve literacy outcomes for struggling students by addressing two key areas: reader development and teacher development. UFLI began in 1998 as a tutoring model for struggling beginning readers, but it now encompasses a variety of literacy projects, including tutoring and instructional models for struggling readers, assistance to schools and school districts, and teacher education and professional development.

Reader Development programs focus on assessment, instruction, and intervention for students.

Teacher Development programs prepare preservice teachers and practicing educators to use evidence-based instructional practices to serve struggling readers. These programs include graduate coursework, school-based supports, and online professional learning experiences to reach teachers worldwide.

Our Mission and Vision

Vision:
We envision a time when ALL students experience success in reading, because

every teacher has the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and resources required to address individual student needs, and
every student and family has access to the necessary support.

Mission:
The University of Florida Literacy Institute promotes equitable, inclusive, and effective teaching and enhanced reading outcomes for all children through transformative teacher and reader development programs.

Making an impact on the future of literacy

At home in Florida, we have endeavored to improve reading instruction throughout the state. Our intensive, school-based professional development efforts have focused on deepening teachers’ knowledge and enhancing their classroom application of evidence-based instructional methods. Over the past year, we have broadened our focus to include supporting the development of district leaders and school administrators. This expansion will help school districts build capacity and create systems in which our teacher development work can thrive.

We have cultivated new partnerships to expand our impact throughout Florida. We are working with the Just Read, Florida office to provide professional development and resources for the new state Literacy Directors. We have held a series of webinars For the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource System to enhance the literracy support they provide to teachers in every district.

Learn More About UFLI's Impact

Our Research

The primary purpose of UFLI’s research initiatives is to study the impact our work, improving literacy achievement through coordinated efforts in reader development and teacher development. Projects include ongoing evaluation of the impact of professional development (PD) initiatives of the James Patterson Literacy Challenge, explorations of teachers’ use of UFLI’s Virtual Teaching Resource Hub and literacy applications, as well as the study of student and tutor outcomes in our Summer Adventures in Literacy (SAIL) programs. In addition, UFLI faculty and doctoral students engage in robust research across many domains of early literacy, reading acquisition, dyslexia, pre-service teacher preparation, and literacy PD.