Improving literacy outcomes for each and every student is a goal worthy of educators' best efforts. This high goal is made more challenging by shifting mandates in education that can leave literacy professionals and school leaders disoriented, seeking a guaranteed fix. The authors propose a more coherent, more effective way to attain this goal: thinking of the school as a system. The authors discuss four essential elements for designing a schoolwide system for literacy learning: a shared vision and set of core values; common goals, common language, and collective responsibility; a high level of teacher expertise; and a culture of continuous professional learning.