How One School Strengthened Family Engagement—and Literacy Skills—with Raising a Reader

At Maria L. Varisco-Rogers Charter School in Newark, New Jersey, family engagement and literacy are at the heart of student success. Serving a diverse community, the school sought a proven, turnkey program that would strengthen reading at home while supporting classroom learning.

They chose Raising a Reader to help every family become an active part of their child’s reading journey.

“Raising a Reader aligns perfectly with our mission to promote reading at home and encourage a love for books,” the team shared. “It engages families, supports language development, and enhances learning both inside and outside the classroom.”

The Results They’re Working Toward

By integrating Raising a Reader, the school is:

• Building literacy confidence and reading joy in every student.
• Engaging parents and caregivers through simple, ready-to-use family activities.
• Strengthening home–school connections with tools teachers can easily integrate.
• Celebrating  stories that reflect students’ lives and broaden their perspectives.

“The program reinforces our mission to build strong partnerships with families and support every child’s educational journey.”

Why It Works

Raising a Reader’s proven model makes it easy for schools and early learning programs to:

• Implement quickly with turnkey materials, training, and ongoing support.
• Fits within existing literacy plans – Seamlessly integrates into the goals and frameworks partners already use to strengthen reading outcomes for children.
• Flexible for any community – The program can be tailored to fit each organization’s schedule, structure, and community needs.
• Proven and trusted – Many partners come to Raising a Reader because they’ve heard strong recommendations—or experienced firsthand—the positive parent feedback and visible results.

“Raising a Reader cultivates a love for reading by actively involving families in their children’s literacy development—creating lasting, positive impacts on both academic achievement and family engagement.”

Interested in bringing Raising a Reader to your school or organization?
Connect with us today!

Raising a Reader makes this possible through two proven models:

• Classic Red Book Bag Program – weekly rotations of diverse, high-quality books to spark family reading routines.
• Home Library Programs – lasting collections build home libraries.

How to Fund Literacy Programs Like Raising a Reader

The good news? Schools don’t need to find new money to fund Raising a Reader. Many existing resources can be used to support literacy and family engagement, including:

• Title I (family engagement and literacy support)
• Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) funds
• Additional federal funding streams that prioritize literacy and parent engagement
• State literacy and family engagement grants
• PTA, local, or community funds

These funding opportunities are designed to help schools improve reading outcomes, expand access to books, and build family-school partnerships—the exact results Raising a Reader delivers.

Raising a Reader… 

• Builds joyful reading routines at home
• Increases family engagement  in literacy activities
• Improves early literacy skills and school readiness
• Provides turnkey implementation and support for educators

Learn how to fund Raising a Reader in your school and start building stronger readers today!

As both a parent and the CEO of Raising a Reader, this hits home. Because I know what the research shows—and I also know how hard it can feel to make reading part of an already full day.

But here’s the truth: reading together doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.

Reading isn’t just about words on a page or hitting a milestone—it’s about building connection. Even five minutes before bedtime or while waiting for the bus can spark joy, boost brain development, and strengthen your relationship with your child.

Reframing Reading as Connection, Not a Chore

At Raising a Reader, we believe in bringing joy back to reading. We do this by helping families create simple, sustainable routines through our Classic Red Book Bag and Home Library programs. Each week, families receive high-quality books they can share at home, helping to create joyful moments that build resilience and early literacy skills.

And it works. Families tell us that the program doesn’t just help their children learn to love books—it helps them fall in love with reading together.

The Ask: Let’s Change the Narrative

Instead of seeing reading aloud as something you have to get right—or something to check off a list—what if we saw it as a chance to connect?

• A time to laugh at silly characters
• A quiet moment to wind down before bed
• A shared adventure into a new world

That’s the heart of Raising a Reader’s work: helping families build joyful reading habits that stick.

 Read the full article in Education Week

 Learn how Raising a Reader supports joyful reading routines

This year’s report highlights our growing reach, with 34,000 additional children and families served and new partnerships with organizations like Stanford IMPACT, Utah Foster Care, and Save the Children to expand reading access nationwide. We also piloted Read Together, Grow Together and early math initiatives, ensuring a whole-child approach to learning.

Most importantly, the data speaks volumes:

• 92% of families established a shared reading routine (up from 64%).
• 91% of parents feel confident supporting their child’s learning at home.
• 87% of families believe their child is school-ready (compared to just 45% before Raising a Reader).

These achievements wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated partners, educators, and supporters. Together, we’re making a difference!

Read the full report and see the impact we’ve made together:
https://raisingareader.org/2024-impact-report/

The latest national assessment of educational progress results reveal a sobering reality: American children’s reading skills have reached new lows with little sign of post pandemic recovery. 

As reported in The New York Times, 40% of 4th graders and 33% of 8th graders now perform at a below basic level in reading and dash the highest percentages in decades. The implications of this literacy crisis are profound impacting students academic success future job prospects and overall well-being 

At Raising a Reader, we see this as a call to action for over 25 years we have worked to support families educators and those serving young children in fostering early literacy skills helping children build the foundation they need to become strong readers while experts continue to debate the cause behind declining reading scores—screen time absenteeism and instructional methods—one thing remains clear: literacy begins at home and engaging families in shared reading is one of the most powerful interventions we have 
 

The latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results reveal a sobering reality: American children’s reading skills have reached new lows, with little sign of post-pandemic recovery.  

40% of fourth graders and 33% of eighth graders now perform at a “below basic” level in reading—the highest percentages in decades. The implications of this literacy crisis are profound, impacting students’ academic success, future job prospects, and overall well-being. 

The Power of Early Reading Routines 

Research tells us that early consistent exposure to books and reading can significantly improve literacy outcomes yet for many families access to high quality books and support for at home reading routines remains a challenge raising a reader bridges this gap by partnering with early childhood programs, schools, libraries, and community organizations to provide families with award-winning diverse and developmentally appropriate books along with guidance on interactive reading practices. 

A Family Engagement Approach to Literacy 

At Raising a Reader we believe that building strong literacy skills requires more than classroom instructional alone. Our programs support families by: 

• Providing Access to Books: Our Classic Red Book Bag Program circulates high-quality, diverse books into homes, ensuring that children have opportunities to build reading routines. 

• Encouraging Shared Reading Habits: We equip families and caregivers with simple, research-backed strategies to make reading interactive, fun, and a consistent part of daily life, just like brushing teeth. 

• Building Partnerships: We collaborate with educators, pediatricians, and community organizations to reinforce the message that reading together is fundamental to a child’s development. 
   

What We Must Do Next 

The national decline in reading scores is alarming but reversible. We must act now to ensure every child gains the literacy skills they need to succeed. This means prioritizing family engagement, expanding access to diverse books at home, and promoting daily reading routines. Families are key partners in early literacy, and we must invest in programs that support them. 

The NAEP results are a wake-up call and an opportunity to strengthen what works. Raising a Reader is committed to equipping children with the tools to thrive in school, work, and life. We invite families, educators, and partners to join us—because when we read together, we grow together. 

Get Involved 

To learn more about Raising a Reader’s programs and how you can support early literacy in your community, visit www.raisingareader.org. 

Why Family Connections Matter

Studies show that when families feel confident and engaged in their child’s educational journey, children are more likely to develop strong reading skills. In fact, 100% of Raising a Reader partners reported an increase in parents’ confidence in sharing books with their children, and 98% observed an increase in parents’ knowledge of shared reading techniques.

Raising a Reader is working to ensure that all families—regardless of time, resources, language or literacy level—can be part of their child’s learning journey in a way that feels natural and supportive.

Family connections are at the heart of Raising a Reader’s mission.

Together, we can ensure that all children have the support, encouragement, and resources they need to develop a lifelong love of reading. Because when families connect, children thrive.

While students enjoy snow days and cozy reading indoors, educators, schools, and libraries can take steps to ensure every child has access to books at home when school is out.

Super Summer Learning Adventures (SSLA) makes it easy to build home libraries that keep children engaged, learning, and ready for the next school year.

Each SSLA set includes:

 High-quality, diverse books to build literacy skills
 Fun, interactive activities that make learning fun

 Family-friendly guides to support building reading routines at home

By planning now, you can guarantee your students have books in hand when summer arrives—helping them avoid the summer slide and establishing a home library that supports lifelong learning.

Even though there may be snow on the ground, let’s set students up for success this summer. 

Order Your Super Summer Learning Adventures Program Today: https://raisingareader.org/super-summer-learning-adventures/

Questions? We’d love to connect!

#SuperSummerLearning #HomeLibraries #PreventSummerSlide #RaisingaReader

At the recent event in Concord, NC, children at Save the Children Head Start Cabarrus Academy received the bright red bags filled with diverse, award-winning books to take home and read together with their family. Each week, the students will receive new books to rotate in the home,  fostering a love of reading and bonding time with their families. As Dr. Olivia Givens, Senior Program Director for Save the Children Head Start in NC, shared, “We know that when children read together as a family, they are more likely to succeed in kindergarten and life.”

A similar launch event took place in Farmington, NM, where the community gathered at Apache Elementary School to kick off the program. Both communities are part of Raising a Reader’s broader mission to serve children across the US, supporting early learning and family engagement in partnership with local organizations and partners.

This collaboration demonstrates the power of radical collaboration in helping young children develop critical literacy skills and fostering meaningful family connections. As Raising a Reader celebrates its 25th anniversary, the launch of partnerships like these in Farmington and Concord demonstrates our continued dedication to supporting early learning and family engagement across the country. Through this collaboration, we’re ensuring that children in rural communities have the tools they need for success in school and life.

Read more about the program launch in Concord, NC.

1. Content and Themes: 
We choose books that explore a wide range of feelings, challenges, and social situations that children encounter in everyday life. The stories we select are relatable, featuring plots that engage young readers, allowing them to connect with the characters and the experiences they share. Through these connections, children learn to empathize and better understand their own feelings and those of others. 
 

2. Representation: 
Diversity is a cornerstone of our book selection process. We seek out stories that offer both “window and mirror” experiences — books that serve as a mirror by reflecting the reader’s own life and experiences, and as a window into the lives of others. This approach not only fosters a sense of belonging and self-acceptance but also highlights the importance of embracing inclusivity and understanding different perspectives. 
 

3. Meaningful Text: 
We prioritize books that are well-written and thoughtfully crafted, engaging young readers through language that sparks their imagination and curiosity. Meaningful texts not only capture attention but also encourage children to ask questions and explore their emotions. 
 

4. Illustrations: 
Visual storytelling is crucial in children’s books, and we pay close attention to illustrations. We look for artwork that complements the story, representing diverse characters and content in an accurate and respectful manner. Illustrations should captivate young readers, adding depth to the story and helping children visualize and emotionally engage with the content. 

The Importance of Early Literacy 

Early literacy is the foundation of a child’s education. Research shows that children who develop strong reading skills early on are more likely to succeed academically and later in life. However, many children enter school without the necessary literacy skills, creating a significant achievement gap. 

The Classic Red Book Bag Program 

Our Classic Red Book Bag Program addresses this issue by providing families with a rotating collection of high-quality, age-appropriate, diverse books. Each week, children take home a red bag filled with books to read with their families, fostering a love of reading and improving literacy skills. 

Family Engagement 

Family engagement is a key component of our program. When families read together, they not only enhance their child’s literacy skills but also strengthen family bonds. Our program encourages parents to be active participants in their child’s learning, creating a supportive and enriching environment. 

We’ve seen incredible success stories from families who have participated in the Classic Red Book Bag Program. For example, one parent shared how their child’s reading skills improved dramatically after just a few months in the program. Another family described how the program brought them closer together through their shared love of reading. 

Together, we can bridge early literacy gaps and ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed. Join us in making a difference this school year by fostering a love of reading and increasing family engagement. Contact us at hello@raisingareader.org for more information or visit us here.  

• The First Book Moment – Witnessing a child’s joy when they open their red or blue bag and pull out their first book from Raising a Reader—there’s nothing quite like it! 

• Family Engagement – Seeing families reading together and making it a cherished family routine. 

• Our Amazing Affiliates – Celebrating the strength and dedication of our amazing affiliates and dedicated coordinators who drive our program’s impact. 

• Our Awesome RAR National Team – Our team’s unwavering commitment and passion for changing lives through early literacy. We have had wonderful colleagues over our 25 years, and many still stay in close touch with the RAR family.  

• Diverse Books – Offering books that reflect the wonderful diversity of our world. 

• Seeing Long-term Impact – Meeting adults who were once in the program and now share it with their children or children in their community. 

• Our National Footprint – Reaching children and families in bustling urban centers, expansive suburbs, vibrant rural towns, and inspiring tribal communities across the United States. 

• Radical Collaborations and Partnerships – Working side-by-side with amazing partners, educators, and organizations who are as passionate about early literacy and family engagement as we are. 

• Thoughtful Innovations – Listening to the needs of communities to adapt and scale impact. 

• Heartwarming Feedback – Every note we receive sharing how our books have sparked a child’s imagination. 

• Program Growth – Watching our program expand from a few sites in the San Francisco Bay Area to thousands across the country. 

• Iconic Red Book Bags – Our signature red book bags that kids love and carry proudly. 

• Evidence of Success – The gratifying data showing how much young children are benefitting from our programs. 

• Supporting Libraries – Strengthening the bridge between families and libraries, a critical resource for lifelong learning. 

• Funding Partners – The generosity of our donors and sponsors who believe in our mission and support our growth. 

• Joyful Book Collection – Carefully curated book collection, ensuring every title sparks curiosity, joy, and a love for reading and where all children feel seen.  

• Professional Development – Offering ongoing professional development opportunities, building a community of support for those implementing one of our programs.  

• Dedicated Coaching – Providing hands-on training and support to our Affiliates, ensuring they have the tools and confidence needed to succeed. 

• Supportive Workshops – Giving parents the tools they need to be part of their child’s reading journey. 

• Creating Lifelong Readers – The pride in knowing we help foster lifelong learners. 

• Cultural Celebrations – Incorporating books that celebrate different cultures, traditions, and languages, fostering inclusivity and understanding. 

• Family Testimonials – Hearing stories from families about how Raising a Reader has positively impacted their reading routines. 

• Dedicated Board Members – Celebrating the commitment, generosity, and guidance of our board members who provide strategic direction and support to our mission. 

• Our Visionary Founders – We love to shout out Sterling Speirn and Carol Gray, as key members of the founding team, along with founding partners like San Mateo County Library.  

• Ready Freddy – Celebrating our lovable bulldog mascot, Ready Freddy, who brings smiles, excitement, and a love of reading to children everywhere! 

Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey. Here’s to continuing our shared story of making reading a part of every child’s life! 

The Brain’s Remarkable Growth

The early years are a period of rapid brain development. From birth to age three, a child’s brain grows to 80% of its adult size, forming more than a million neural connections every second. This growth sets the stage for lifelong learning and emotional health.

The Power of Early Experiences

Research tells us that early experiences significantly influence brain development. Positive interactions, such as reading together, talking, and playing, help build strong neural pathways that are crucial for cognitive, social, and emotional development. 

Social-Emotional Development: The Heart of Learning

Social-emotional development is as critical as cognitive development in early childhood. Babies and toddlers learn about emotions and relationships through their interactions with caregivers. Consistent, nurturing relationships provide a safe and secure foundation, allowing children to explore their environment, develop empathy, and build resilience.

The Role of Reading in Early Development

Reading with children from an early age offers many benefits. It fosters a love of books, strengthens the parent-child bond, and supports emotional regulation and understanding. Through stories, children learn to recognize and manage emotions, develop problem-solving skills, and build a sense of identity and empathy.

Supporting Early Literacy and Family Engagement 

At Raising a Reader, we understand the critical role early experiences play in a child’s development. Our programs are designed to empower families with the tools and knowledge to create enriching, literacy-rich environments. By sharing books and reading together, families can support their children’s cognitive and social-emotional growth, laying a strong foundation for future success.

Join Us in Celebrating 25 Years of Raising a Reader

This year, as we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we invite you to join us in our mission. #We’reStrongerTogether

“The summer months offer an opportunity to reinforce and build upon the learning that occurs during the school year,” said Michelle Sioson Hyman, Senior Vice President, Program and Partnerships at Raising a Reader. “However, without resources and learning activities, children can experience significant setbacks in their educational progress, commonly referred to as the ‘summer slide.'” 
 

The Importance of Summer Learning 

Research indicates that students can lose up to two months of reading and math skills if they are not actively learning over the summer. This loss is more pronounced among students from families navigating strategic barriers, who may have less access to educational resources during the break.  

Key Strategies for Effective Summer Learning 
 

• Establish a Reading Routine: Make reading together with children a daily habit. Set aside a specific time each day for reading. Consistency helps children incorporate reading into their daily life and maintains their literacy skills. 

• Embrace Reading Anywhere: Turn every environment into a reading opportunity. Long drives can be perfect for books and family discussions about a currently reading book. Short trips around town can become interactive lessons where children read road signs, shop names, and menus. This approach helps integrate reading with daily activities, making it a regular part of children’s lives. 

• Access to a Variety of Reading Materials: Ensure children have access to diverse books that capture their interest. Libraries are excellent resources for exploring.  

• Rhyme Time: Engage in rhyming games and activities. Rhymes are fun and help young children develop an ear for language, which is essential for reading readiness. 

• Letter Recognition Games: Play games that involve spotting letters in the environment, like on signs or in books. You can also create homemade letter cards and have your child match them or arrange them in alphabetical order. 

• Cooking Together: Involve children in simple cooking activities. Cooking involves reading recipes, measuring ingredients, and following steps, which are all educational. 

• Involve Parents in Reading: Reading together as a family builds brains, strengthens bonds and resilience, and enhances children’s academic success by exposing them to richer vocabularies and complex narrative structures, crucial for developing strong reading and comprehension skills.  

” We know that by providing families resources to incorporate fun ways of learning at home throughout the summer, we can help students return to school ready to learn and succeed,” added Sioson Hyman. “Our Super Summer Learning Adventures Program is designed to make learning a fun and integral part of the summer for every child and their family.” 

Shared reading is a powerful tool. It not only promotes literacy but also strengthens the bonds between caregivers and children. Through reading together, families create a safe space for emotional expression and understanding. This  allows both adults and children to talk about emotions, and fosters a sense of connection and empathy. 

For adults, shared reading offers a moment of calm and connection. It provides an opportunity to demonstrate empathy, patience, and problem-solving skills in a natural and engaging way. Adults who enhance their own emotional intelligence are better equipped to guide children through their emotional development.

The benefits of shared reading extend beyond emotional health. It supports cognitive development and academic success, as children who feel emotionally secure are more ready to learn. Connections matter! They are vital for both social and academic growth.

At Raising a Reader, we are committed to promoting connections through our programs. The Classic Red Book Bag Program, Family Shared Reading Program, and Super Summer Learning Adventures Program are all designed to support families in building strong, resilient relationships through share reading.

Research underscores the impact of the summer slide, with students potentially losing up to three months of reading progress. According to this article from Brookings, summer reading programs have been found to significantly raise reading test scores, especially when they blend academic learning with recreational activities, suggesting a more comprehensive approach to literacy development. Programs focusing on reading comprehension and fluency, showed the most substantial positive impacts, equivalent to boosting students from the 50th to the 65th percentile​​.

Engaging in summer reading also cultivates a broader vocabulary, crucial for academic success and personal growth. A daily reading routine exposes students to a significantly larger array of words, with a child reading twenty minutes a day at home encountering an average of 1.8 million words per year. Developing vocabulary is directly linked to literacy levels and the ability to comprehend complex texts​​.

Learn more about Raising a Reader’s Super Summer Learning Adventures Program:    https://raisingareader.org/super-summer-learning-adventures/

As highlighted by Torgerson, through exposure to diverse titles, characters, and perspectives, children gain empathy, expand their language abilities, and learn to express themselves.   

She also provided tips on how to engage in family-shared reading, such as   

reading aloud together, identifying books that inspire and excite children, creating habits that support a reading routine, and providing access to books through resources in the community.   

Raising a Reader is a longtime supporter of Brilliant Detroit and couldn’t be prouder to be featured on the Brilliant Together Podcast debut season. RAR is honored to contribute to this important conversation and to join a community of champions for children and families.  

Listen here. The podcast is also available on Apple and Spotify.  

Implementation and Instructional Quality 

The variance in instructional quality observed within and across sites in the study highlights the importance of consistent, high-quality programming. Raising a Reader’s model, which emphasizes the role of parents and caregivers in building early literacy skills through shared reading experiences, can be a vital component in ensuring uniformity in quality. By equipping families with the tools, resources and strategies to support reading together at home, Raising a Reader’s Super Summer Learning Adventures (SSLA) Program helps maintain a high standard of learning engagement that complements formal educational programs. 

Attendance and Participation 

Raising a Reader’s SSLA Program’s emphasis on fostering a love for reading through a variety of culturally relevant books and materials can increase enthusiasm for continued participation. By making reading enjoyable and by involving families in the learning process, Raising a Reader’s SSLA Program can ensure more consistent engagement over the summer months. 
 

Academic and Social-Emotional Outcomes 

While the research did not find specific evidence of benefits in language arts and social-emotional outcomes from the summer programs studied, Raising a Reader’s SSLA approach—integrating early literacy with social-emotional learning through stories that reflect diverse experiences—can address this gap. By encouraging discussions, in the home, around books, SSLA not only builds early literacy skills but also supports the development of empathy, emotional regulation, and social skills in the student and families.  

SSLA is designed to activate summer learning in the home and help prepare children for the school year ahead. Through supporting families in reading together over the summer, SSLA directly addresses the critical issue of the “summer slide,” where students lose academic gains made during the school year due to extended breaks from formal education.  

By investing in proven strategies such as comprehensive afterschool and summer enrichment, the Administration not only acknowledges but also financially supports efforts to mitigate learning loss caused by the pandemic and traditional summer breaks. 

Super Summer Learning Adventures complements the federal focus by providing a targeted approach to early literacy and engagement between families and children. It builds home libraries and leverages the out-of-school time to foster a love for reading and continuous learning, which are essential components of the Administration’s broader educational objectives.  

By encouraging routine reading habits and providing access to books and literacy resources, SSLA works to bridge the gap in educational opportunities over the summer, ensuring students return to school ready to learn and succeed. 

The connection between the Administration’s agenda and Raising a Reader’s SSLA program underscores a shared commitment to enhancing educational outcomes through collaboration between government initiatives and community-based organizations. It highlights how strategic investments and support for evidence-based programs can create synergistic effects, amplifying the impact on student achievement and addressing educational disparities exacerbated by the summer slide. This partnership model serves as a blueprint for leveraging federal resources to support and scale local initiatives, thereby accelerating academic recovery and enrichment for children across the nation. 

For more info:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/17/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-improving-student-achievement-agenda-in-2024/

Kristof rightly points out that our children are suffering due to a lack of systemic support, from inadequate childcare and education systems to insufficient health care and safety measures. The statistics he shares, such as the alarming mortality rate of children in the U.S. compared to other wealthy nations, are a stark reminder of the work that lies ahead. 

At Raising a Reader, we believe that literacy is the foundation of all learning and a critical component of any pro-child agenda. Literacy empowers children, giving them the tools to thrive in school and life. It is imperative that we not only focus on childcare and poverty reduction but also ensure that every child has access to quality early education, emotional learning, healthy family relationships, learning skills and resources needed to thrive in school and beyond. 

Integral to our mission is our radical collaboration with hundreds of peer organizations, who we work alongside to support thousands of children and families. By working together with these partners, we amplify our impact, ensuring that our elected officials make decisions in support of our young children.  

Kristof’s call for a “million child march” on Washington and the push for candidates to address child welfare issues in this election year align with our mission. We must hold our elected leaders accountable and ensure that children’s well-being is at the forefront of their agendas. 

By investing in our children’s future, we invest in the future of our country. Let’s work together to ensure that every child can thrive and reach their full potential. 

Let us know a fun fact about you?           
I was in Tiger Band at Louisiana State University! 

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?  
Tennis, running, skiing, and cooking!  

Best part about working for RAR?  
The team, and the careful curation of our inclusive and diverse books which are so important to kiddos across the country. 

What is something you are most proud of?  
Being a really good aunt to my niece and nephew and bonus aunt for my friend’s kiddos. And being a really great dog mom to my 2 perfect seniors and 1 insane poodle pup. 

School districts have had and continue to have the herculean task of identifying strategies that can support recovery from the learning loss that occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This school year, school districts have a better understanding of just how much educational progress in reading has been lost since 2020 and recognize that a child’s recovery from learning loss can only happen if there is a true partnership between home and school to ensure literacy and learning continues to be supported outside the classroom walls. However, meaningful school-home connections requires time and funding. Luckily, there are several public funding streams that school districts can tap into that include parent involvement and family engagement as an allowable expense, such as pandemic relief dollars and Title 1 funds.  
 

ESSER Funding 

In March 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act., which created a specific fund, Education Stabilization Fund, to pay for relief and recovery efforts specifically for schools. Additional funds have continued to be allocated to the ESF, which the US Department of Education manages and distributes through several emergency relief programs. One of these programs is the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER). Several Raising a Reader Affiliates and partners have specifically been able to use the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) to implement all three of our programs as they align with the following allowable expenses: 

• Needs associated with children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English Learners, marginalized groups, students experiencing homelessness, and foster care youth 
• Family engagement opportunities (to assist parents and families in effectively supporting students) 
• Resources and academic supports for early childhood (Pre-K to 2nd) 
• Summer enrichment programs  
• And more! 

Title 1 Funding 

Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA) provides financial assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. Each LEA and school assisted with Title  funds is required to ensure effective involvement of parents and family members to support a partnership between school and home. Raising a Reader maps to several of the requirements, including: 

• Provide materials and training to help parents to work with their children to improve their children’s achievement, such as literacy training, to foster parent involvement 
• Educate teachers and other staff the value and utility of contributions of parents, and in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs, and build ties between parents and the school 
• Provide necessary literacy training from funds received under Title I, Part A if the LEA has exhausted all other reasonably available sources of funding for such training; 

• Adopt and implement model approaches to improving parental involvement 

Join us for our upcoming ESSER Webinar: Funding Success for Early Literacy and Family Engagement: ESSR and RAR Programs 

Date: Wednesday, November 29^th  

Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm  PT | 2:00pm – 3:00pm ET 

Description: Learn how Raising a Reader programs align seamlessly with ESSER funding opportunities for schools and organizations. Discover the keys to securing the support you need to bring Raising a Reader to your school or organization.  

Register here 

Before we look ahead to an exciting new year full of possibilities, let’s pause to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who have helped build brighter futures for so many young children and families all across the US. 

Children and Families: At the heart of our mission are the children and families we serve. We are grateful to be part of your journey building routines around reading together daily.  

Teachers, Implementers, and Affiliates: Your unwavering commitment to young children, engaging families and building early literacy skills is a driving force behind our shared successes.  

Funders and Partners: Your generous contributions have allowed us to reach more children and families, making a lasting impact on their lives.  

RAR Board and Staff: You are the heart and soul of Raising a Reader. Your commitment, passion, and dedication drive our success. Thank you for making it all happen. 

Here’s to our continued journey together! 

Caption: Worldreader’s BookSmart app and the Raising a Reader organization are helping to virtually fill the shelves of little libraries in “Kinder Ready” pediatric clinics.

By Kristen Walter, Director of US Programs, Worldreader

Every clinic waiting room has one: the frazzled adult with several kids in tow, carrying an overstuffed bag filled with Kleenex, crayons, and cracker crumbs. Maybe you’ve even been that adult who hands the kids a screen in a last-ditch attempt to keep them from ransacking the stack of intake forms or emptying the hand sanitizer bottle on the rug. 

Don’t worry. Help is on the way. 

Worldreader has partnered with the Raising a Reader organization and several pediatric clinics in the Bay Area of California, leveraging technology to connect waiting families with high-quality books. This is accomplished with Worldreader’s BookSmart app, providing young readers ages 3 through 12 with free and instant access to hundreds of digital books in multiple languages.

The intent of the partnership goes far beyond simply providing families with a diversion. Raising a Reader’s Senior Vice President of Programs and Partnerships, Michelle Siosin Hyman, said her organization is founded with a belief in strengthening families. “We believe that early literacy is the cornerstone in equity for all,” she said. “We want reading to be in places like housing agencies, medical clinics and home visiting programs. We want families to have access to diverse books in all of the spaces and places where they are.” 

Dr. Reshma Thadani agrees. She is part of a number of pediatricians promoting “Kinder Ready” clinics that focus on school readiness, especially for families less connected to early childhood education programs. Kinder Ready clinics engage parents and guardians as their child’s first teacher, providing learning materials in friendly clinic environments and embedding a school readiness narrative into clinical guidance.

“When I learned about BookSmart, I thought, ‘This is really a perfect solution for us. This is a way that we can promote reading with people who are already on an electronic device.’” 

During the summer, the National Indian Head Start Director’s Association, Zone 1 sites, Raising a Reader, and a generous funder came together to support children learning during the summer to activate summer learning in the home and prepare children for the school year ahead. Together, we enabled 921 children to participate in Raising a Reader’s Super Summer Learning Adventures (SSLA) program , supporting families to build, practice and grow reading routines with their children.

The journey began during the peak of the pandemic when we partnered with the Tribal Child Care Association of California. Together, we customized Raising a Reader’s SSLA program to cater specifically to tribal communities. The children and families received a specially curated book collection in which they could see themselves reflected in the stories and pages of the book, as identified by a culture committee representing tribal communities across the state.

Ms. Sarah Anderson, a teacher from the Spirit Lake Tribe’s Head Start program, expressed her enthusiasm: “Raising a Reader’s Super Summer Learning Adventures program was a game-changer for our little ones. The materials were engaging and culturally relevant, making learning exciting.  The children and their families loved it!”

A participating parent shared, “I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity. It kept my child engaged and connected us through books. This program strengthened my child’s connection to their cultural roots with the special curated Tribal book collection.”

This collaboration showcases the incredible possibilities that can be achieved when organizations unite to support young children and their families. It is a testament to the power of radical collaboration, proving when hearts and minds come together, the impact on children’s lives can be immeasurable. Together, we built bridges and illuminated a path to a brighter future for the children we serve.

 “Collaborations like this one remind us that when we come together, we can create transformative experiences for our children and their families,” said Terri Stringer, Senior Manager National Indian Head Start Directors Association National Indian Head Start Director’s Association.

Read on the Oklahoma City Free Press Website

Last Updated on August 6, 2023, 2:53 AM | Published: May 14, 2022

How did you find your favorite books as a young child? Were they gifts? Were they passed down from your parents or older siblings? Maybe your kindergarten class was lucky enough to have just a few on hand that you could choose from.

Well, thanks to a nationally beloved non-profit, Oklahoma City children are being given the opportunity to not only find and enjoy a huge selection of books geared toward their ages, but to take them into their homes as well as into their families.

The Raising a Reader program has already been a rousing success at Willow Brook, Thelma Parks, and Martin Luther King Elementary Schools in Oklahoma City Public Schools. But, beginning with the 2022-23 school season, the program will be in place at every OKCPS school with Pre-K through 2nd grade.

“It’s just a really great program,” said Dr. Stephanie Hinton, Director of Early Childhood Education for the district. “We’re creating routines and habits in the home that encourage lifelong learning.”

“An Ongoing Connection”

Raising a Reader is a simple concept:

• Each classroom from pre-k through second grade gets 26 bags that each contain a selection of four or five books aimed at those students’ age ranges and demographics.
• Each week, every student takes home a bag of books to read and enjoy with their parents or siblings.
• The next week, they bring that bag of books back to school and swap it out for a different bag full of different books, and the rotation continues throughout the school year until every student has had a week with every bag.

The idea behind the California-based non-profit is that this rotation of books into the homes of young students can not only help to foster a love and appreciation for reading outside of school, but also create a community among children in which they can each discuss and bond over their favorite books.

Most importantly, though, the program is a strong encouragement for parents to get involved with their children’s education and growth as readers.

“As educators, we’re always thinking about the ways that we can engage families in the academic process,” Dr. Hinton said. “With Raising a Reader, we’re going to be able to provide an ongoing connection around literacy development with the families. There is something very different and very unique about sitting down with a child and reading a story with them or to them. It nurtures that relationship and fosters a love of learning and of reading.”

Finding Funding

The first three Metro schools to have implemented the Raising a Reader program to great success for the past five years were funded primarily through generous donations, the district-wide expansion is only possible thanks to pandemic relief funds.

As part of the nationwide CARES Act of 2020, the federal government created the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund  to help schools and districts pay for programs designed to reaffirm and repair the educational landscape damaged by COVID.

When OKCPS began considering how to use their allotment of those funds, expanding this already proven program encouraging literacy and parental involvement was a no-brainer.

“It fit right in with what the district was looking for as far as ESSER projects go,” Dr. Hinton told me. “It’s a non-profit organization, so we’re essentially paying for a product that they have put together for us and for Raising a Reader to implement it in our district. And we get a lot of resources that come with that as well, like training.”

In a time of continuing budget and appropriations issues for education in our state, even something as simple and straightforward as providing take-home books to young students would be virtually impossible without the non-profit’s help.

“It’s just a bag of books, you know, it’s not the most novel idea,” Dr. Hinton says with a laugh. “But it has the infrastructure and support in place, and it has a curriculum for us to look through and figure out what works for us and for our students and families.”

“Raising Future Adults”

Though Hinton is palpably excited about the prospect of seeing Raising a Reader expanded across the district, she is quick to point out that it is just one step toward creating a deeper, more engaged community around early childhood education, especially in terms of reaching more parents and children during those all-important first formative years.

“We have a childcare issue in our country,” she said. “We have childcare deserts in Oklahoma City, and childcare deserts across our state, and it’s an access issue.”

“And, it’s not that I see school as the only answer, but you do see a lot of places around the nation diving into three and four-year-old programs now because it’s a way to address that childcare issue. I’m a big believer that childcare is something that should be free and accessible to all, just like public school.”

Ultimately, Dr. Hinton’s focus is on not only raising the level of education in OKC, but on helping to reframe the bigger picture of the goals and benchmarks in our children’s educations away from something purely academic and quantified to something more lasting and universal.

That’s why she believes it’s so important for a program like Raising a Reader to get books into the hands, minds, and hearts of children even outside of school.

“We are raising future adults,” she said. “The habits that we’re building through reading, through creating lifelong learners, to me, that will always be more valuable than a test score.”

At Raising a Reader, we believe that collaboration is the key to unlocking the full potential of our vision that every child has the family support and reading skills they need to thrive.  We work to create a world where every child is read to, every day, fostering a love for books and a strong foundation for lifelong learning. The power of collaboration lies at the heart of what we do, and it plays a crucial role in driving positive change for the children and families we serve. At Raising a Reader, we like to call this Radical Collaboration. 

Collaboration empowers us to effectively bridge systems, supporting the continuum of early learning and strengthening family engagement, all in support of brighter futures for all children. By forging partnerships with schools, libraries, community organizations, as well as national, regional, and local partners, we expand our reach and impact significantly, bringing evidence-based early literacy programs to diverse communities all across the United States. Through these partnerships, we pool resources, share knowledge, and tap into the unique expertise of each collaborator. This collective effort magnifies our impact beyond what we could achieve in isolation. 

The counter argument to collaboration is competition. At times, nonprofits and peer organizations see each other as ‘competition’ or an impediment to meeting their own specific goals and funding needs. While there is a case to made for focus and effectiveness, at the end of day, most programs and services have been developed to address a systemic injustice, that will realistically require a team of focused organizations working together with community to untether. If we focus on the true issue at hand and address systemic inequities together, and with urgency, then the time and investment in collaboration is invaluable.  

Through collaboration, we gain valuable insights and perspectives.  

Our partners bring a wealth of knowledge about the communities they serve, their unique challenges, and their incredible strengths. By listening and learning from each other, we can better tailor our programs to meet the specific needs of each partner. This adaptability ensures that our efforts are not only effective but also culturally relevant and inclusive. Our recent radical collaboration conversations with Read with Malcolm and Worldreader, recognizing the critical importance of diverse books in early literacy and Brilliant Detroit and Little Libraries emphasize the vital role of collaboration in supporting children and their families. 

Collaboration fosters innovation and creativity.  

When diverse minds come together, new ideas emerge that lead to innovative approaches. By staying at the forefront of early literacy and family engagement solutions, we can continuously improve our programs and support of young children, ensuring they have the family support and reading skills they need to thrive.   

Working together amplifies our collective voice, making it easier for communities. 

When multiple organizations unite under a common cause, our efforts become stronger and more influential. We can raise awareness about the importance of early literacy, advocate for supportive policies, and rally critical partners and community collaborators around our mission. Collaboration empowers us to make a broader impact on a systemic level, striving for positive change in society’s approach to early childhood education. If we set aside our jargon and specific organization’s nuanced language and meet in the middle to make things easier for communities and families understand, then together we will actually go farther. We collectively work with community for a greater good, so why wouldn’t fellow nonprofits work together in collaboration?   

Finally, collaboration helps us measure and evaluate our impact better. By collaborating with experts, we can conduct more comprehensive evaluations of our program’s effectiveness. This data-driven approach ensures that our programs are evidence-based and continuously refined to ensure they are meeting the needs of our partners and the children and families we serve. 

Together, we can create a future where every child has the family support and reading skills they need to thrive. Join us in this collective journey, and let’s make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families across the United States. 

We are hosting a free virtual screening of The Right to Read documentary! You can watch anytime from September 7 – September 9.

The Right to Read is a 70 minute documentary about the early literacy crisis in America and what we can do about it. You can watch the trailer here

It’s easy. It’s information. It’s worth it!….It’s Informative!

1. Click here to enter the virtual screening anytime from September 7th through September 9th. 

2. Click “Register” and enter your email address and the event invitation code (TRT-R723). You can return as many times as you like during the screening window by clicking “Event Login” and entering the same email address and invitation code. 

3. Please fill out the Audience Survey after you’ve watched the film. This feedback will be viewed by the film team and will be incredibly helpful in shaping the impact of the film and campaign. It will only take around 5 minutes. 

We will be hosting a panel discussion, diving into some important and critical points from the film in lieu of our Town Hall on September 29th. More details to come.

If you are having trouble registering, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at hello@raisingareder.org.

The nomination comes as a result of Raising a Reader’s outstanding achievements, having attained a prestigious four-star rating and earned all four Charity Navigator beacons. This recognition reflects the organization’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and effectiveness in its charitable endeavors. 

The Community Choice Awards will have one winner in each size-based category: small, medium, large, and super. The determination of the winners will be based on the total number of votes received. The winners will be officially announced on September 27, 2023. 

The four winning charities will receive the following: 

• Prominent visibility on Charity Navigator for one year 
• Email announcement to Charity Navigator’s audience of donors 
• Dedicated posts on Charity Navigator’s social media 
• Webinar speaking opportunity 
• Press release over the wire 

“Raising a Reader is deeply grateful for this nomination and the continued support from our community, donors, and partners. Together, we can build a future where every child has the family support and reading skills they need to thrive.”  

~ Michelle Torgerson, President and CEO 
 

To cast your vote and support Raising a Reader in the Community Choice Awards, please visit this link and follow the voting instructions.  

Where are you from originally?  Where are you currently located?  

I grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota and I currently live in San Rafael, California  

Share a fun fact about you.  

I love to shoot hoops (basketball).  

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?   

During my free time, I like doing yoga and going on nature walks to stay healthy and be outside. Music is something I really love, and I often go to see live shows with my family and friends.  

I also enjoy fashion and design and going to museums, which makes my creative side happy. When it comes to food, my family and I are big foodies. We love trying new recipes and whipping up new inventions.  

I love to travel and explore often with my family—a perk of having an airline pilot as a partner!   
   

What’s one of the best parts about working for RAR?   

I love our mission so much and working together in partnership with communities across the country. But the best part of working at RAR is working with the talented, smart, and fun staff and board of directors.  

What is something you are most proud of?   

I am most proud of how our organization worked together to persevere through the global pandemic, partnering with communities to evolve and meet specific needs that support serving children and families.  

Welcome to #WeAreRaisinaReader, a social media campaign we’re launching to give you a peek behind the scenes at RAR and shine a light on our RAR team.  
 

In this campaign, we invite you to join us as we shine a light on the dedicated team and the impactful work, they do every day. Join us as we explore what’s happening behind-the-scenes and the passion driving Raising a Reader. 

A Glimpse Behind the Scenes and Highlighting Our Work 

At Raising a Reader, our work would not be possible without the remarkable individuals who make up our team. Through the #WeAreRaisingaReader campaign, we will introduce you to our team. You will get an insider’s perspective on their roles and the work they do every day — from Maryland to California and from the RAR warehouse to our home offices! 

Fun Facts and Favorites 

In addition to our work, we will share fun facts about our team members and their favorite things. Learn more about our backgrounds, hobbies, and interests. We believe that building community involves understanding the people behind the organization. 

Make sure you’re following us on all of our social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn 

Together, we can ensure every child has the family support and reading skills they need to thrive.   

Pictured L-R: Lizzie Horner (Chief Of Staff); Jennifer Ford (Vice President, Finance and Operations); Rebecca Chrystal (Managing Director, Programs and Partnerships) Michelle Sioson Hyman (Senior Vice President, Programs and Partnerships); Tymisha Sweet (Senior Manager, Program and Affiliate Relation); Michelle Torgerson, (President and CEO) 

Check out our Impact Report and learn more about how we are building and supporting programs that work and strengthening families through reading.

We couldn’t do this work without all of our critical partners!

Jennifer is proud of the many milestones achieved by Raising a Reader over the years. Among them, one stands out—the team’s dedication to always putting children and families at the center of everything they do. 

Jennifer loves the outdoors and if she had one free hour a day, she would spend it hiking with my family, friends, or solo! One of her favorite books from the RAR library is “Mae Among the Stars “, written by Roda Ahmed and designed by Stasia Burrington.

We are grateful for Jennifer’s 10 years of dedication to not only Raising a Reader, but dedication to children and families across the country!

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is crucial for children’s development. It helps them develop critical skills for school success and overall well-being. By promoting empathy, positive relationships, emotional management, and problem-solving, SEL prepares children to navigate life’s challenges with resilience. 

• Our Social Emotional Book Only collection, which contains 10 books and a downloadable guide is the perfect way to add books into your Classic Red Book Bag Program to help with skills needed for success. This collection, and the supplemental resources, help establish and maintain conversations on empathy, positive relationships, managing emotions, problem solving, and more.
• As an optional add-on to our Super Summer Learning Adventures offering, we have a social-emotional pack ready for purchase, which contains a family guide to support social emotional development in children, and a cozy stuffed RAR animal companion. These add-ons have been popular with our Affiliates looking to provide additional resources to caregivers over the summer. 
• Have you met Ready Freddy? Ready Freddy is a valuable tool for fostering Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in children. This cozy stuffed RAR animal companion helps children explore emotions, empathy, problem-solving, and positive relationships.

Contact us at hello@raisingareader.org with any questions about these offerings or if you would like ideas on how to incorporate social emotional learning in your setting.   

We’re celebrating our partnership with Masons of California. With their generous longtime support of nearly $4M since 2011, RAR has been able to increase the resources we bring to our Affiliates. To date they have funded more than 800 classrooms. We are closing in on our goal of reaching 1,000 Masons of California classrooms!  

Here are some recent highlights from our partnership:  

·       Bahia Vista Elementary in the San Rafael Unified School District launched 4 new first grade classrooms with Masons of California support this year.  

·       New Haven Unified School District launched 2 Mandarin Dual-Immersion Kindergarten classrooms this year. 

Thank you to the Masons of California for their transformative partnership and enduring commitment to engaging families in early childhood.