Raising A Reader
An Effective Practice
Description
Raising A Reader is a take-home book bag program aimed at helping vulnerable and low-income families to increase their children's reading skills.
The program, which began in 1999 in San Mateo County, combined resources from other early childhood organizations, libraries and investors to provide books in the child-care setting. Classrooms receive a ready-to-use kit for each child, including donated books, library books, instructional videos for parents and other support materials. These kits are rotated weekly among the families.
The program, which began in 1999 in San Mateo County, combined resources from other early childhood organizations, libraries and investors to provide books in the child-care setting. Classrooms receive a ready-to-use kit for each child, including donated books, library books, instructional videos for parents and other support materials. These kits are rotated weekly among the families.
Goal / Mission
Raising A Reader's mission is to foster healthy brain development, encourage parent and child bonding through reading together and facilitate future school success by increasing reading skills.
Results / Accomplishments
In 2009, Raising A Reader reached 107,000 children in over 2,400 sites around the country. Evaluations demonstrated that children participating in the program achieved 58% higher reading scores and 27% higher story comprehansion scores. The number of parents who reported reading to their children five or more times a week increased four-fold among participants.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Raising A Reader
Primary Contact
Topics
Education / Childcare & Early Childhood Education
Education / Literacy
Community / Social Environment
Education / Literacy
Community / Social Environment
Organization(s)
Raising A Reader
Date of publication
2010
Date of implementation
1999
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Children, Families