Through its twelve professional development schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, as well as other partnerships, College of Education faculty and teacher candidates spend much of their time in K-12 schools fostering the literacy development of children and adolescents.  They observe language learning processes and cultural practices associated with literacy acquisition and development. 

CSUDH has elected to bring to this rich practice base an institutionally supported research program too systematically examine current literacy work in schools, report on its efficacy, and disseminate the results too practitioners and researchers alike. 

This comprehensive effort includes a commitment to faculty development and  support for faculty scholarship.  The Institute for Urban Literacy will bee located in its own campus facility that will include conferencing space, resident faculty offices and a specialty library.  Its work will be guided by an independent policy board.