An alarming number of children—about 67 percent nationwide and more than 80 percent of those from low-income families—are not proficient readers by the end of third grade. This has significant and long-term consequences not only for each of those children but for their communities, and for our nation as a whole.
If left unchecked, this problem will undermine efforts to
end intergenerational poverty, close the achievement gap, and reduce high
school dropout rates. Far fewer of the next generation will be prepared to
succeed in a global economy, participate in higher education, or enter military
and civilian service.
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading was launched to reverse
this potentially catastrophic trend by supporting common-sense solutions at the
federal, state, and local levels.
These include rebuilding what is now a chaotic system of
early care and early grade education by using grade-level reading proficiency
as a unifying goal; promoting quality teaching for every child in every setting
every day; supporting community solutions to address lack of school readiness,
chronic absence, and summer learning loss; and helping parents succeed in their
critical roles as first teachers and best advocates.
No one is saying any of this is magic. But it is work that
has been delayed and deferred because we too often let our good intentions
excuse an unacceptable lack of results. Achieving and sustaining gains in third
grade reading proficiency will require sustained diligence, continuing
bipartisan effort, and effective collaboration across sectors, agencies, and
constituencies.
|