“Providence Reads” Initiative Draws In Civic, Business Leaders
Providence Mayor Angel Taveras joined with community and business leaders to launch Providence Reads, an initiative that aims to educate parents and the community about the importance of reading, to improve school readiness and attendance, and to increase access to books. At a Nov. 14 event, Taveras called for business community involvement, with commitments already received  from GTECH, Walgreens, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Citizens Bank, and AAA Southern New England. Providence Reads is part of a... ... More »

Webinars highlight partnering on attendance, learning disabilities
A pair of webinars last week stressed the vital role that key partnerships can play in ensuring more children master reading by the time they finish third grade. A webinar we produced with Attendance Works on Tuesday, All Together Now! Developing Systemic Responses to Chronic Absence, demonstrated how school districts are working with community nonprofits and government agencies to help reduce chronic absence rates. Leaders from Los Angeles, Oakland, CA, and Buffalo, NY spoke about how their... ... More »

PBS Segment Highlights Health Providers Role
We all know that there are not enough spaces in prekindergarten for every child who needs one. In some states, many children don't even attend kindergarten. But most children go to the doctor's office regularly, and that provides an opportunity to promote early literacy. PBS NewsHour this week featured a segment about Reach Out and Read, a program that enlists pediatricians and health care providers to help advance school readiness. The providers give books to children... ... More »

Grants Awarded to GLR Communities Network Members
Three new grants supporting literacy efforts across the nation were announced last month, the latest in an influx of funding that will have a tremendous impact on communities in our network. The federal Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program awarded $28 million for 46 grants to organizations and school districts working to improve literacy skills for students in high-need districts and schools. The grantees included such national groups as Reading Is Fundamental, Raising a Reader, Boys... ... More »

Grade-Level Reading on Parade
The grade-level reading team in Marshalltown, IA, shared this great picture from a recent Oktemberfest fall festival. Their float "Hog Wild for Reading" won first place in the noncommercial, themed category, reports Sue Martin, Executive Director of the Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation and local site lead. Marshalltown is an All-America City and has a very robust grade-level reading effort underway.  ... More »