Our Challenge

We’re in the midst of a major literacy crisis in America. Nationwide, only 1 in 3 kids are reading at grade level by the end of third grade. In the last 10 years, progress for literacy rates in Oakland has been slow and incremental. In order for the next generation of Oakland youth to succeed, we must do more to make sure they are prepared. In Oakland, after more than a year of distance learning, only 15.4% of Black and 12.5% of Latino/a of all elementary school students are reading at grade level. Research shows reading  proficiency by the end of third grade is a key predictor for high school graduation and career success.

While significant attention focuses on reading in elementary schools, the journey to becoming a reader begins at birth and must be a priority in a child’s first years. Nationally, 80% of children that are behind in reading when they enter kindergarten never catch up. In Oakland, 65% of kids entered kindergarten already behind and considered “not fully ready to learn.” And although the literacy crisis predates the pandemic, the effects of distance learning only intensified the problem, disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable kids.