Arizona Named Pacesetter State
Arizona drew attention when, as a state, it was named a finalist last summer for the All-America City award. Now, the Campaign has named Arizona a “Pacesetter State” for its philanthropic leadership and the shared commitment in communities across the state to “put a stake in the ground” around third grade reading. “Arizona’s commitment to third grade reading as a statewide priority is off to a promising start,” said Ralph Smith, the Campaign’s Managing Director and... ... More »

Springfield Partnership with Public Housing Featured
A  grade-level reading partnership in Springfield, Massachusetts, was featured during a recent meeting at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development where representatives of the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation described their Talk/Read/Succeed! program. As part of the agency’s “Meet the Funder, Know the Work” series, the foundation and Springfield officials met with more than a dozen HUD officials on January 16 to explain the collaboration among community partners and the Springfield Housing... ... More »

Second Round of Communities Can Apply to Join Network
For the first time since the Campaign launched its Grade-Level Reading Communities Network last year, we are opening up the process for more cities, counties and towns to join. Communities have until April 1 to submit a letter of intent, expressing interest in becoming part of the Network. Each community must then form a cross-sector coalition and develop a Community Solutions Action Plan (CSAP).  In March 2012, a total of 124 communities submitted CSAPs and joined the... ... More »

Arkansas Hosts State Grade-Level Reading Forum
Advocates, educators, parents  and foundations in Arkansas came together this weekend for a two-day forum to ensure that by 2020 all children are reading at grade level by the end of third grade. Currently one in four don't hit that mark, based on state tests. The Arkansas Campaign for Grade-Level Reading  offered a town hall meeting and workshops on how to expand school readiness, encourage parent engagement and combat chronic absence and summer learning loss. "Third grade... ... More »

Family Engagement 2.0
At an elementary school in one of Washington, D.C.’s most challenged neighborhoods, a new model of family engagement is helping transform education. Teachers make home visits and phone calls to establish a connection with every family. Parents don’t just read to children, they test their reading fluency and share the results with teachers. The result has been extraordinary test scores gains for DC Scholars Stanton Elementary School, as well as a much calmer, more supportive climate... ... More »