The City of Roanoke Early Grade Reading Campaign
3rd Grade Reading Success Matters and We Need to Take Action!
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is a 10-year effort by foundations to move the needle on third grade reading proficiency and address the developmental and academic targets that children need to reach to be successful. The work will promote policies that lead to better coordination and alignment of services, improve instruction and evaluation, and tackle obstacles to achievement, such as chronic absence and summer learning loss. The campaign aims to make grade-level reading proficiency for all children by the end of third grade a national priority.
The 2012 All-America City Awards will go to communities that have developed the most comprehensive, realistic and sustainable plans to increase grade-level reading proficiency by the end of third grade. Communities will be recognized in June 2012 for their strategies in three areas that have real potential to drive improvements in grade-level reading: school readiness, school attendance, and summer learning.
The Campaign and its partners–the National Civic League, National League of Cities and United Way Worldwide are working with local communities participating in the award process to offer technical assistance and peer learning opportunities.
With strong leadership from the City of Roanoke and Roanoke City Public Schools, the City of Roanoke joined more than 150 communities across the national in submitting a letter of intent to participate in this growing national movement. The cities and counties, representing more than half the states and millions of school children, are addressing what is clearly a national crisis: A full two thirds of U.S. students fail to become proficient readers in the early grades, and schools cannot fix this without community support.
United Way of Roanoke Valley through its focus on Education is committed to advancing the common good by seeing more young children arrive in kindergarten ready to learn and help our students succeed in school! United Way is a partner and supporter in the development of the City of Roanoke's Early Grade Reading Campaign. Learn more about the Campaign for Early Grade Reading and how you can give, advocate and volunteer to give children and youth in the Roanoke Valley the building blocks they need to succeed in school and in life.
Check out Tools and Tips for Reading to Children, for some great ideas on how you can start making an impact on a child's life!
