With educators under enormous pressure to make sure students meet grade level standards in reading and math, writing often takes a back seat in the curriculum, as many literacy experts have observed.

The landscape of early literacy in Missouri has shifted dramatically with the March 2026 passage of new literacy legislation and the ongoing implementation of the 'Read, Lead, Exceed' initiative.

People write for a variety of purposes—including recording, persuading, learning, communicating, entertaining, self-expression, and reflection—and proficiency in writing for one purpose does not ...