Improving the literacy skills of struggling high school readers remains one of the greatest challenges educators face today. Students who are two or more years behind grade level in their language arts skills have little chance of successfully completing a rigorous program of studies in high school and are the most likely to drop out. Accelerating the learning progress of such students is the explicit goal of the Ramp-Up Program in Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Ky. Jefferson County Public Schools is a diverse, metropolitan school district that includes 150 schools serving approximately 97,000 students, 55% of whom come from economically disadvantaged homes and qualify for free or reduced lunch benefits. PLANNING In planning the Ramp-Up Program and its accompanying professional development, school and