Reading Across Generations, Building Futures Together

"You can't build strong futures on weak foundations."

Nowhere is this more evident than in early literacy.

A strong foundation in reading is essential to academic success, long-term economic stability, and civic engagement. National data consistently show that students who do not learn to read by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school, placing them at greater risk for unemployment, poverty, and involvement with the criminal justice system.

The literacy crisis disproportionately impacts African American students, particularly boys. Only 17% of African American fourth graders read at or above proficiency-a rate that has not improved since 2022 and is lower than it was a decade ago. According to the Literacy Research Center, proficiency rates decline sharply with age: 12% of African American eighth-grade boys read proficiently, and by twelfth grade, that number drops to just 6%. These statistics underscore a persistent and systemic gap that worsens over time without early and targeted intervention.

Literacy outcomes for African American males are closely linked to life trajectories. Research consistently demonstrates that low literacy levels correlate with higher rates of school disengagement, incarceration, and limited economic mobility. For many students, the ability to read proficiently can mean the difference between opportunity and incarceration.

Learning to read involves mastering foundational skills such as phonics, decoding, fluency, and vocabulary. Reading to learn occurs when students apply those skills to comprehend complex texts, acquire new knowledge, and think critically. Without early mastery of these foundational skills, students struggle across all subject areas, compounding academic gaps year after year.

Ensuring that students read proficiently by third grade is one of the most impactful investments communities can make to disrupt cycles of inequity. Community-based literacy initiatives, such as Read Across Generations, address this need by strengthening literacy through intergenerational engagement and family involvement. By connecting children, caregivers, and community members around consistent reading practices, these programs build sustainable literacy habits that extend beyond the classroom and create long-term academic and social outcomes.