The revised Washington State English Language Arts standards represent more than an update to content expectations—they offer an opportunity to strengthen how students engage with literacy as readers, writers, speakers, listeners, researchers, and critical consumers of media. In this session, participants will explore the rationale behind the revisions, examine key shifts in the WA ELA 2026 standards, and consider how these changes build on existing effective practices in elementary classrooms. Through reflection and discussion, educators will begin identifying instructional opportunities that support student agency, sensemaking, collaboration, and purposeful literacy learning.