CAMPAIGN FOR GRADE-LEVEL READING

Currently in Wyoming Valley only 36% of our third graders are reading on grade level. United Way of Wyoming Valley has taken a big step toward improving student success in our area by joining the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (GLR), a nationwide movement to increase early reading proficiency.

Reading proficiency by the end of third grade is a critical milestone toward high school graduation and success later in life because it marks the transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” National tests show that two-thirds of U.S. fourth graders (four-fifths of whom are from low-income families) are not reading proficiently. Students who have not mastered reading by that time are more likely to drop out of high school and struggle throughout their lives.

Making an Impact In Our Community

The United Way's plan focuses on addressing underlying challenges that can keep young children, especially those in low-income families, from learning to read proficiently:

School Readiness

Too many child are entering kindergarten already behind

School Attendance

Too many young children are missing too many days of school

Summer Learning

Too many children are losing ground academically over the summer

Membership in the GLR Community

Membership in the GLR Communities Network gives United Way of Wyoming Valley and the Wyoming Valley area access to experts focused on early literacy, assistance in addressing the challenges that keep many children from learning to read, and opportunities to share and learn best practices from communities across the country.

About the Campaign for GLR

Launched in May 2010, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is a collaborative effort of funders, nonprofit partners, business leaders, government agencies, states and communities across the nation to ensure that many more children from low-income families succeed in school and graduate prepared for college, a career and active citizenship. Since its launch, the campaign as grown to include more than 285 communities, representing 42 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with 2,100 local organizations (including 130 United Ways and 250 state and local funders.) To learn more, visit gradelevelreading.net and follow the movement on Twitter @readingby3rd.