1 Overview of the Campaign & Community Solutions Ron Fairchild, Director, Network Communities Support Center Milwaukee, WI – February 18, 2014

Momentum Is Building 142 communities, representing 39 states across the nation, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with 1,600 local organizations (including over 100 local funders)

3 grade reading proficiency Essential Assurances  Quality teaching in every setting  Seamless systems of care, services and family supports, 0-8  Community Solutions (Readiness, Attendance and Summer Learning) Investment Strategies (Time, Talent, Dollars) Replicate and scale what works Create proof points of success and scale Milestones By 2015/2016 Progress on the strategies Progress on the community solutions Progress on student performance By 2020 A dozen states or more have increased by at least 100% the number of low-income children reading proficiently by the end of 3 rd grade Promising trend line and sustainable momentum How to disrupt intergenerational poverty? Organize and mobilize the “big tent” 3 rd

The Readiness Gap: Too many children from low-income families begin school already far behind. The Attendance Gap: Too many children from low-income families miss too many days of school. The Summer Slide: Too many children from low-income families lose too much ground over the summer months. Community Solutions 4

Percentage of Children Ages 3–6 With Selected School Readiness Skills, by Poverty Status Source: O'Donnell, Kevin. Parents’ Reports of the School Readiness of Young Children from the National Household Education Surveys Program of 2007, Table 2. National Center for Education Statistics. August

Ratio of Age-Appropriate Books Per Child in Middle- and Low-Income Neighborhoods Neuman, Susan B. and David K. Dickinson, ed. Handbook of Early Literacy Research, Volume 2. New York, NY: 2006, p

Chronic Kindergarten Absence Lowers 5th Grade Reading Success for Low- Income Students

9 Upcoming Offers & Opportunities from the NCSC Ron Fairchild, Director, Network Communities Support Center Milwaukee, WI – February 18, 2014

Grade-Level Reading Communities Network 16 Communities benefit from being part of the Network which serves as a: Platform Community of Practice Distribution Channel for promising ideas, programs and practices that advances the work through peer exchanges, peer learning and peer coaching for delivering technical assistance, pursuing scale and accelerating innovation

Network Communities Support Center (NCSC) 14 The NCSC functions as a hub, broker and accelerator that supports communities in producing results. “Hub” by serving as the curator of communities of practice and as the navigator for the distribution channel “Broker” by offering communities access to tools, experts and information needed to develop the capacities (leadership, resources and skills) to execute their plans. “Accelerator” by finding and creating catalytic events, awards and other opportunities designed to increase the scope and pace of change

12 Network Communities Support Center (NCSC) The Menu Data  Results Scorecard Pilot  Peer learning Resources  Funding announcements  Letters of support  Social Impact Exchange  Peer learning “Big Tent” Leadership  Community Wealth Partners  Results Based Leadership  Peer learning Implementation  Attendance Works  National Summer Learning Assn  School Readiness Consultants  United Way Worldwide  National League of Cities  Peer learning

13 Network Communities Support Center (NCSC) 2014 GLR Network Calendar of Activities March 2 nd Read Across America Day/Dr. Seuss Day April 6 – 13 th National Volunteer Week June 20 th Summer Learning Day SeptemberAttendance Awareness Month Oct-DecTell Our Story

Dr. Seuss’s Birthday Celebrated Monday, March 3 NEA holds Read Across America events throughout March Read ALOUD 15 MINUTES holds a messaging “pulse” aimed at parents & caregivers GLR Campaign is working with both

Opportunities for Communities Opportunity to engage policymakers & top educators in reading initiative Opportunity to reach parents about the importance of reading aloud Opportunity to connect with media about the work of your coalition

1. Plan/join an event Check what local schools/libraries Check with state NEA chapters Invite key coalition members Toolkit offers: Ideas or materials on planning an event Posters State contacts

2. Connect with Cat-a-Van NEA & Renaissance Dental are sponsoring the Cat-a-Van tour to deliver messages about good oral health and literacy habits. Itinerary: Brownsville, Laredo, San Antonio & Austin, TX Oklahoma City, OK Livonia, Southfield & Grand Rapids, MI Indianapolis, IN Columbus & East Cleveland, OH Columbia, SC August, Dublin, Macon & Atlanta, GA Jackson, MS

3. Engage parents with Read Aloud To convey the importance of engaging parents, the toolkit includes: Talking points Parent handout Infographic/poster If you haven’t joined as a Read Aloud partner, go to: www2.readaloud.org/cglr

4. Include dual language learners Colorin Colorado!, a web-based service aimed at educators and Spanish-speaking families of English language learners, offers tips for parents in 11 languages. Parent handouts

5. Issue a proclamation Encourage your school board or city council to proclaim the value of early reading Sample proclamation language

6. Reach out to the media Submit an Op-Ed: Use the occasion to share the importance of early reading and what your community is hoping to do, as well as recruit new partners. Template included. Pitch a News Story: Tout the work you’re doing on grade-level reading to the local media. Template included.

7. Leverage social media Use Twitter and Facebook to share messages about the importance of parents in developing early reading skills. Use the Campaign’s and hashtag #glr, so we can retweet you. Sample tweets and Facebook postings Like our Facebook, Follow us on Twitter, twitter.com/readingby3rd