This project supports our work to provide high-quality books, materials, family engagement and early literacy support to children in high-need communities across all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Brains develop most rapidly in the first several years of a child's life as they build the cognitive and language skills that must be in place before learning to read. Yet, research shows that 61% of low-income families do not have access to books in the home and parents lack the resources to impact their child's academic success. If a child enters school without those critical skills, they must be developed and will result in falling so far behind their peers they never catch up.
Raising A Reader is evidence-based, with 34 independent evaluations showing the program significantly improves language and literacy skills, cognitive development, communication and comprehension skills, school readiness and social competence. Our core program rotates bright red bags filled with books each week into homes and provides the tools for parents and caregivers to engage in book sharing routines with their child from birth to age eight preparing them for academic success.
The impact of the program includes increased frequency and length of time families devote to sharing books with their children. Time spent sharing books at home reinforces emerging decoding and comprehension skills. RAR helps children associate reading with pleasurable experiences outside the realm of school and homework, and engaging them in book sharing routines not only demonstrates that reading is a priority, but sets the stage for homework habits essential for future academic success.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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