NY Commission Recommends Cradle-to-Career Approach
New York State's education reform commission delivered a preliminary set of recommendations to Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week, and there’s a lot to like here. The commission recommends a cradle-to career approach that includes: Access to full-day preK to expand school readiness for the neediest students. “The Commission recommends that, for the first time, New York provide high quality full-day pre-kindergarten for highest needs students in order to close the achievement gap and ensure that New... ... More »

17 Promise Neighborhood Grants Awarded, 9 to Network Communities
We’re delighted to share the news that nine communities working with us to improve grade-level reading were among the 17 recipients of Promise Neighborhood Grants announced by U.S. Department of Education today. The federal grant programs rewards comprehensive, neighborhood-based efforts to embrace children from birth and carry them through college with the right educational, health and community supports. As such, the work aligns with the Campaign’s efforts to create a seamless system of support for children... ... More »

New Report Explores the “Digital Wild West”
Every month, dozens of new digital apps, e-books and technology-based programs emerge, promising to turn young children into strong readers. But how many of these products and programs were developed with input in early childhood experts? And how many deliver on what they promise? The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading asked experts at the New America Foundation and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop to assess the state of the market. What they found was... ... More »

New S&I Index Features Evidence-Based Nonprofits
A new national index has launched to point foundations and donors to successful nonprofit organizations, including some groups already at work in our communities. The Social Impact Exchange’s “Social Impact 100,” (S&I 100), is a results-driven index of national nonprofits. Modeled after aspects of the S&P 500, the S&I 100 aggregates top-performing, evidence-based nonprofits so that funders can be sure they are contributing to organizations that consistently deliver impact. This index will complement the replicating and... ... More »

TIME Collaborative Aims to Add 300 Hours of Instructional Time
This week, 10 school districts serving nearly 40,000 students across five states committed to keep students learning 300 hours longer each school year. Some will add days to the school calendar. Others will add hours to the school day. This exciting new initiative led by the nonprofit National Center on Time and Learning and the Ford Foundation has the potential to lift up thousands of students from low-income families who now have few opportunities for enriching... ... More »