Swivl is proud to announce our partnership with Fresno County Superintendent of Schools and the California State University Chancellor’s Office in their groundbreaking initiative to enhance academic literacy and college readiness across California, New Mexico, Hawai’i, and Washington through the Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum (ERWC). Developed by California State University, the ERWC has received praise for its impact on student achievement and its use of rhetorical inquiry and is generously funded by a prestigious Education Innovation and Research Expansion grant by the U.S. Department of Education.
Through the grant, high schools will implement the ERWC and WestEd will evaluate the impact on student achievement. This opportunity also comes with the chance to try Swivl’s innovative technology in your classrooms to enhance literacy education for students in grades 9-10 and professional development for their teachers.
Transforming literacy with comprehensive curriculum
The ERWC stands out for its cutting-edge approach to developing critical thinking and literacy skills, integration of Universal Design for Learning principles, and the use of Integrated and Designated supports for ELD. The curriculum features yearlong thematic courses with multiple pathway options, emphasizing oral communication, collaborative discussion, and civic discourse. Aligned with Common Core State Standards for ELA, and combined with the power of Swivl tools for student communication and collaboration, the curriculum applies an advanced integrative approach to improving literacy outcomes. A recent report by WestEd highlights the impacts on students:
“My students were able to move from surface-level understanding to higher levels of thinking,” reports one participating teacher.
Another participant praised the curriculum for its usage of culturally relevant and engaging text throughout: “When you’re talking about texts that they actually have an interest in, they start asking better questions, they start writing more, they actually want to know about it.”
This transformation in student engagement is a common thread among ERWC classrooms, where teachers consistently observe enhanced critical reading and writing skills, particularly in students’ ability to analyze texts and question the author’s purpose more deeply.
Super-charge teaching with advanced technology
In addition to the curriculum provided, school participants will have access to Swivl’s innovative technology for instructional coaching and teacher reflection. Participating schools receive Swivl tools as part of their participation, enabling teachers to record, review, and reflect on their teaching practices. This technology integration also supports the implementation of Jim Knight’s High Impact Instruction Toolkit, providing teachers with concrete ways to enhance their instructional practices and questioning techniques.
Unlock substantial benefits
Schools who participate will receive:
- Comprehensive professional learning opportunities, including dedicated support for site-based communities of practice, summer workshops, and one-on-one coaching
- Access to the complete ERWC for grades 6-12
- Free materials, including student books
- Included Swivl technology for teacher reflection and student development
- Substantial stipends for participation:
- Up to $8,000 for ERWC teachers
- Up to $2,000 for traditional English teachers
- $3,000 for school site leads
- $20,000 for schools
- $5,000 for districts
Do you qualify?
High schools in New Mexico, Hawai’i, and Washington state are encouraged participate and are eligible as long as the school’s overall enrollment requirement meets or exceeds 800 students.
Participating schools must:
- Have at least two teachers for ERWC and one for traditional English in grades 9 and 10
- Implement random student assignments between ERWC and traditional English classes
- Participate in data collection by WestEd throughout the study
The curriculum will roll out over three years, beginning with grade 9 pilot implementation in 2025/26 and concluding with grade 10 evaluation in 2027/28.
Take the next step toward literacy excellence
This partnership represents a unique opportunity to enhance student literacy while supporting teacher professional development through innovative technology. Schools interested in participating in this transformative curriculum are encouraged to complete the interest form to learn more.
This initiative promises to create lasting positive change in how we prepare students for college-level academic challenges by combining proven curriculum approaches with cutting-edge professional development tools.
Complete the interest form today to take the first step!
