The Government of Ethiopia has made education a top priority over the past three decades, resulting in gains in enrollment and improvements in education quality. The net enrollment rate has increased from 57.4 percent in 1997 to 99.9 percent today. Yet despite this progress, literacy still lags behind. The U.S. Agency for International Development’s 2016 Early Grade Reading Assessment suggests that only about a third of grade 2 and grade 3 students can read at a functional level (more than 20-25 words per minute). To address these challenges, the five-year READ II projects seeks to boost the quality of literacy instruction and student support for 15 million children, including those at risk of failure and dropout caused by cognitive, emotional and physical effects of hunger, violence, and displacement. Funded by USAID and implemented by Creative Associates International, along with its core partners Education Development Center and World Vision, the project works to better equip teachers with effective early grade reading instruction techniques and materials in seven mother-tongue languages and English, while simultaneously building a culture of reading in the school, home and community. To meet the needs of all learners, including girls and vulnerable students, the project will enable teachers, communities, and parents to support the whole child through differentiated instruction; a safe, friendly school environment; sufficient materials; and activities to improve learning, engagement, and wellbeing. READ II will provide teachers with an enhanced early grade reading instructional package – including support for teaching techniques and classroom management – in addition to ongoing coaching, monitoring and learning opportunities at the school and district level. And to ensure that students’ access to education and learning is not interrupted during times of crisis, the project seeks to establish a systemic approach to identify and rapidly respond to student and household needs. Technology-based data collection and analysis will enable education officials and administrators to monitor the progress, quickly identify challenges and take action to meet the needs of teachers and learners.