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The Challenge

Reading proficiency by third grade is a crucial predictor of high school graduation and career success

Reading proficiency by third grade is a crucial predictor of high school graduation and career success; yet, only 70% of Sarasota County’s third graders are reading at grade-level. Nationally, about 67% percent of children, more than 80% from vulnerable families, are not proficient readers by the end of third grade.

Left unchecked, these challenges undermine efforts to end intergenerational poverty, close the achievement gap, and reduce high school dropout rates across our communities.

The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading arose as a call to action to reverse these trends and mobilize communities at the federal, state, and local levels to expand opportunities and remove barriers that impact a child’s ability to succeed academically. The Campaign recognizes that effective collaboration among individuals, nonprofits, government agencies, and local foundations is critical for achieving and sustaining gains in grade-level reading proficiency.

Reading proficiency by third grade is a crucial predictor of high school graduation and career success; yet, only 70% of Sarasota County’s third graders are reading at grade-level. Nationally, about 67% percent of children, more than 80% from vulnerable families, are not proficient readers by the end of third grade.

Left unchecked, these challenges undermine efforts to end intergenerational poverty, close the achievement gap, and reduce high school dropout rates across our communities.

The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading arose as a call to action to reverse these trends and mobilize communities at the federal, state, and local levels to expand opportunities and remove barriers that impact a child’s ability to succeed academically. The Campaign recognizes that effective collaboration among individuals, nonprofits, government agencies, and local foundations is critical for achieving and sustaining gains in grade-level reading proficiency.

Reading proficiency by third grade is a crucial predictor of high school graduation and career success

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Our Role in the Solution

In 2014, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County prepared the Community Solutions Action Plan for Sarasota and was accepted into the national Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.

Our work incorporates a two-generation approach, working with both low-income children and their parents simultaneously to ensure families have the necessary support to be successful. We focus on the attendance zones for four Title 1 schools with students who are the most challenged by achieving reading success—Alta Vista Elementary School, Emma E. Booker Elementary School, Gocio Elementary School, and Tuttle Elementary School – with a concentrated effort to combat summer learning loss.

Summer Learning Academies

Discover how Summer Learning Academies help not only prevent summer learning loss, but also close the achievement gap.

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Summer Learning Academies

Discover how Summer Learning Academies help not only prevent summer learning loss, but also close the achievement gap.

Learn More

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Unlocking Employee Handbooks-Your Key to Mastery

Join the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Cynthia Keaton of Keaton HR, LLC, on Tuesday, October 22, as we host a workshop on Unlocking Employee Handbooks. There are many reasons that organizations need a current handbook that employees should read and sign to acknowledge receipt. Some of the most important reasons are to ensure consistent application of organization policies and to help create a structured, fair, and productive work environment.

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