City Leaders, Agencies Join Groups to Improve Student Success
PHILADELPHIA, PA (December 20th, 2013) –Philadelphia is taking a big step toward improving student success in school by joining the nationwide Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. The city joins more than 130 other cities and communities across the nation committed to bettering the lives of children by making sure they develop the skills needed for success in the classroom.
In Philadelphia, the campaign is supported through a grant from the Barra Foundation. Over the next six months, city agencies and community groups led by Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) and the Urban Affairs Coalition will create a multi-year strategy to increase the share of public school students reading at grade level by the end of third grade. The strategy will focus on four specific policies that can boost the share of students reaching that critical milestone: high quality early learning programs, reduction of school absenteeism, summer reading efforts, and alignment of instructional practices from pre-K to third grade.
“We know that a strong start in school can lead to a lifetime of success,” said Donna Cooper, Executive Director for PCCY. “By working together we can ensure more children in Philadelphia grow into healthy and happy adults.”
Sharmain Matlock-Turner, President and CEO of the Urban Affairs League added “This campaign is just what our children and our city need. Getting our kids reading at grade-level by the end of third grade will go along way to improving the lives of families and growing stronger communities here in Philadelphia.”
Research finds that 74% of students who fail to read proficiently by the end of third grade falter in later grades and often drop out before earning a high school diploma.
“The City of Philadelphia is committed to ensuring every child is prepared with the basic skills needed for future success,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “Reading on grade level is vital to a student’s classroom performance and, ultimately, whether that student will graduate high school. I am looking forward to the positive impact the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading by Third Grade will have on Philadelphia’s next generation.”
Currently in Philadelphia, only 10 of the 167 public elementary schools have 75% or more of their students reading on grade level or better, 61 schools have 50%, and an alarming 24 buildings have just 25% of their students meeting this third grade benchmark.
“Improving academic performance and graduation rates in our schools starts with the basics,” said Dr. William R. Hite, Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia.
“This campaign is exactly what we need to get our children to read at grade level by the end of the third grade and lay the foundation needed for success throughout their academic career.”
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is a collaboration of foundations, nonprofits, communities and states working to address the challenges that keep many children from low-income families from mastering reading.
“The fact is too many children are not ready when they show up for kindergarten, they miss too many days of school and they lose too much ground over the summer,” said Philadelphia native Ralph Smith, Managing Director of the nationwide campaign and Senior Vice President of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. “It’s time to stop blaming the schools and to organize the entire community so that we ensure children are ready for school, show up every day and are engaged in meaningful activity over the summer.”
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