Since its inception, CTL has worked with schools and districts across Kentucky; throughout the southeastern United States; nationally, on a variety of literacy initiatives including the federal Striving Readers adolescent literacy project; and internationally, in East Africa and Southeast Asia.  Early work focused on helping the Kentucky Department of Education implement sweeping reforms to primary education, and engaged more than 300 elementary schools in professional development aimed at transforming early grades curriculum and instruction.

Most recently, CTL has focused on middle and high schools, as well as community colleges, emphasizing development of student literacy, mathematics and science knowledge and skills, and ensuring that students graduate both college and career ready.  To accomplish this, CTL provides support for classroom instruction, leadership development, and creation of a college-going culture.  Recent work with the federal Promise Neighborhoods initiative extends CTL's reach from districs, state agencies and higher education to include community services that support school improvement on a broader scale.

CTL often collaborates with partner organizations, including the Regional Education Laboratory (REL)-Appalachia, the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, the Kentucky Department of Education, and local and regional universities including the University of Louisville, University of Kentucky, and University of Memphis.

Funding comes from a variety of sources including the United States Department of Education, as well as through direct fees for products and services.  Early in CTL's history, significant funding came from foundations such as Annenberg, Knight, Ashland, UPS and Tremaine, and more recently, from the Lumina Foundation for community college literacy work.  Currently, Nokia and the Pearson Foundation are supporting our international literacy work with the International Reading Association in Southeast Asia.