Literacy Training For Pennsylvania educators
Pennsylvania’s Act 135 of 2024 is helping schools and districts make impactful choices about literacy instruction by emphasizing evidence-based professional development.
As a Pennsylvania-based non-profit, AIM Institute for Learning & Research is proud to support over 2,000 PA educators with evidence-based literacy learning. This comprehensive training, which is available in online or hybrid instructional formats, supports educators across K-12 classrooms with deep, evidence-based learning grounded in decades of literacy research and classroom practice.
Why Districts Choose AIM
AIM Pathways™ courses and modules go beyond theory. They equip educators and instructional leaders with actionable literacy tools, strategies, and knowledge to transform reading and writing outcomes.
Our programs include explicit, systematic instruction in:
- Phonological and phonemic awareness
- Decoding and encoding
- Fluency and vocabulary
- Reading comprehension and content knowledge
Each course is interactive, flexible, accessible and grounded in the Science of Reading.
Proven Impact in Pennsylvania
“For the first time in many years, I’ve seen kids excited to read.” -Erin Serock
At Lingelbach Elementary School in Philadelphia, AIM Pathways™ helped turn that excitement into results when third grade reading scores soared from the high 20s to the low 70s in just one year.
What Pennsylvania Educators Are Saying
“This is high-quality professional learning that is comprehensive in all five major elements of literacy. I have a reading specialist degree and after going through [Pathways to Proficient Reading] what I learned in the eight-week Pathways course I didn’t learn in all of [my] time in education. I know now that it’s made me a stronger instructional leader and I highly recommend it.”
— Dr. Angela Ashley, Supervisor of Instruction, School District of the City of York
Courses Designed for Today's Classrooms
All AIM Pathways courses are designed to be:
- Deeply practical with a focus on classroom application, not just theory
- Credential-rich, supporting teachers and interventionists with pathways aligned to dyslexia and literacy standards
- Connected to a broad field of experts across reading, writing, support for English Learners, and more
- Available in a blended model with optional coaching and collaborative learning opportunities
- Curriculum-agnostic so educators can apply what they learn across any program or district approach
- More cost-effective and time-efficient than many traditional PD models
Connect with our team of educators to explore what's possible for your district
- Pathways to Proficient Reading and Pathways to Proficient Reading: Secondary
- Pathways to Structured Literacy
- Pathways to Proficient Writing
- Early Childhood Education
- English Learners
Pathways to Proficient Reading and Pathways to Proficient Reading: Secondary
Pathways to Structured Literacy
Pathways to Proficient Writing
Early Childhood Education
English Learners
Let’s Talk About Your Literacy Goals
Whether you're working to align with the PDE's Act 135 or seeking a scalable literacy solution that truly delivers impact, we’re ready to help. Our team is experienced in collaborating with Pennsylvania districts to build tailored professional learning plans that drive measurable results.
About Act 135 of 2024
Pennsylvania’s Act 135 of 2024, also known as the Structured Literacy and Evidence-Based Reading Instruction Act, was signed into law to improve reading outcomes for all students across the Commonwealth. The law directs school districts to prioritize evidence-based professional development aligned with the Science of Reading.
Act 135 clearly emphasizes structured literacy instruction over the use of balanced literacy practices and the three-cueing system. This shift reflects research showing that explicit, systematic instruction in areas like phonological and phonemic awareness, decoding, encoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension is critical for student success.
This legislation reflects Pennsylvania’s effort to align teacher preparation and professional development with evidence-based practices proven to support all learners. By prioritizing structured literacy, Act 135 encourages more effective, research-driven instruction across the Commonwealth's schools and districts.