Our Story

The Ohio State University

1986

Development of the Literacy Collaborative primary model (K-2) began in 1986 at Ohio State with a series of teacher study groups.

Coach Training

1993

Formal primary literacy coach training began.

Lesley University

1994-1996

Lesley University joined the primary-level efforts in 1994 and began training literacy coaches in 1996.

Intermediate Model

1995-2002

Development of the Literacy Collaborative intermediate model (Grades 3‑6) began with study groups at Ohio State and Lesley University in 1995; formal intermediate literacy coach training began at Lesley University in 1999 and at Ohio State in 2000. Georgia State University began training intermediate literacy coaches in 2002.

Primary District Training

1996

Literacy Collaborative primary district training for districts to offer primary literacy coach training at the local level began in 1996 at Ohio State and Lesley University.

Intermediate District Training

2001

Literacy Collaborative intermediate district training for districts to offer intermediate literacy coach training at the local level began in 2001 at Ohio State and Lesley University.

Middle Level

Now

Ohio State and Lesley University are currently offering a Literacy Collaborative middle level model (Grades 6‑8).

Into the Future

Now

Training, research, and development continue at the university training sites to refine both the understanding of children’s literacy acquisition and development and the implementation of effective teacher professional learning programs.

Major Donations

Gay Su Pinnell's Gifts to Literacy Collaborative at Ohio State

In 2020, professor emerita and Literacy Collaborative co-founder Gay Su Pinnell committed $7.5M from her charitable fund to support the work of Literacy Collaborative and Reading Recovery. The gift will support an endowed professorship in reading, the first endowed clinical professorship for reading, and a fund for literacy education.

Professor Emerita Gay Su Pinnell

Read more about Gay Su Pinnell's commitment to continuing our work and support for students in achieving literacy success.

We are humbled and honored to receive this gift, which is the largest individual gift in the history of the College of Education and Human Ecology.

Gay Su Pinnell continued her investment in Literacy Collaborative by adding $2M to her earlier gift. Read about this extraordinary contribution to our project and the literate lives of students.