The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is a determined effort to mobilize philanthropic leadership around moving the needle on third grade reading over the next decade. This month’s newsletter is a special report from our conference in Denver.
Opening Plenary Energizes Crowd of Nearly 600
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading launched its Communities Network Conference on Saturday with a rousing call from Managing Director Ralph Smith to pivot from planning to performing.
“We will be there to support you, and we’re going to make a powerful effort to find the resources you need to replicate the best programs,” Smith told the crowd of nearly 600 community members, nonprofit partners and funders.
His remarks came at the end of an energetic open plenary that included everything from a taped greeting from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to a surprise visit from Zoe, the library card-carrying muppet.
In a colorful slide show, the Campaign recognized the 25 Community Solutions PaceSetters, places that have already started the hard work of tackling school readiness, chronic absence and summer learning.
Barbara O’Brien, the Campaign’s Policy Director opened the session telling the audience, “This is a campaign that we will win for America’s children because this is a campaign that we must win.”
Smith said the core question for the communities network and its 1,800 partners is: How do we implement plans with fidelity and at scale to move the needle on a population measure that we care about.
He noted that to improve third-grade reading, communities had to consider not just education but also health, housing, hunger and family mobility. They need data to set baselines and measure progress, and they need financial tools to secure the money required. He urged communities to show the courage to stop investing in “programs we love” if they cannot be expanded to reach more children.
Ron Fairchild, the Campaign’s senior consultant told the crowd, “The people who are going to help solve these problems are in this room today.”
Elmo PSA on School Readiness Available for Communities
As evidence of the emerging partnership between the Campaign and Sesame Workshop, Dr. Michael Levine of the Joan Gantz Cooney Center at the Sesame Workshop unveiled a public service announcement on school readiness for use by communities in the Grade-Level Reading Communities Network. The PSA features Elmo, the lovable red Muppet, learning new words—zucchini, spatula and a kiwi—with the help of his human friend Gordon. Communities can download the PSA at http://youtu.be/cbJxiolGzZE.
Target Donates More Than 1 Million Books!
The Target Foundation is donating 1,000 books to schools in honor of each of the 1,000-plus peer reviewers who helped judge applications for the All-America City Grade-Level Reading Award. Each community that applied for the award provided 10 reviewers who collectively submitted more than 2,700 reviews. Their scoring helped determine the 32 finalists for the awards, which will be announced Monday.
“We are pleased to work with the Campaign for Grade Level Reading on this shared commitment to early literacy,” Target wrote in a letter to the peer reviewers. Target is on track to give $1 billion for education by the end of 2015, with a focus on K-3 literacy.
Mayors Help Launch Communities Network
Mayors from across the country helped launched the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Communities Network on Friday, announcing the national movement of local leaders, nonprofits and foundations in 124 communities that is putting a stake in the ground on third-grade reading.
“We realize that we cannot have great cities without great public schools,” said Kevin Johnson, Sacramento mayor and second vice president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Johnson has pledged to make his city the first in the nation to have all third graders reading on grade level.
Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock and Providence Mayor Angel Taveras joined him in launching the network of 124 cities, counties and towns spread across 34 states and representing 350 school districts.
“The work we are beginning today will help equip our students with the necessary skills to succeed in the classroom and compete in the workforce,” Mayor Taveras said.
“There is nothing more important than preparing our students for the global economy,” Mayor Hancock said.
Things to Remember
Sunday’s plenaries sessions featuring the All-America City finalists will be shown on live stream at www.gradelevelreading.net. The plenaries are at 11 a.m. ET/9 a.m. MT and 2 p.m. ET/noon MT.
The conference agenda, maps, bios and PowerPoints from the sessions are available on our special conference Mobile App. Click on the link below and follow the directions to install the app on your electronic devices.
http://showcase2.eventgenie.com/glraac2012/
Feel free to contact us at feedback@gradelevelreading.net if you have any questions.
Notable quotes
“Powerless children need powerful friends.”
Mary Walachy, executive director of the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation
“The communities in the continuum need support just like addicts need the 12 steps.”
Adrian Bordone, co-founder and vice president of Social Solutions.
Hear a notable quote? Send it to pjordan@thehatchergroup.com
Retweetable Tweets
@OaklandReads: Key takeaway from @readingby3rd #read2012 so far: this campaign is super clear, critical, and achievable. #edchat
Tweet from the conference using our hashtag: #read2012