The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (GLR Campaign) has invited Nashville to participate in its nationwide, collaborative effort to improve reading proficiency, early learning and early school success for children from low-income families. This invitation is in recognition of the great work being done in Nashville to address the city’s early literacy crisis, specifically through the The Nashville Literacy Collaborative’s (NLC) Blueprint for Early Childhood Success.
“Our community has made tremendous strides in addressing early literacy in just a few short months through the Blueprint,” said Shannon Hunt, NPEF president and CEO. “Inclusion in the GLR Campaign is a testament to this work and a ‘good housekeeping seal of approval’ that we are right in moving faster and bolder in our efforts to double the number of third-graders reading on grade level by 2025.”
The Blueprint, which has now gained steam locally and nationally, combines the thought leadership of the NLC, the school district, literacy providers, faith and volunteer partners, parents, students, educators, and private philanthropy resulting in a shared implementation framework composed of 29 recommendations to double the number of third-graders reading on grade level by 2025.
“Reading proficiently by the end of third grade is a critical milestone,” said Kent Oliver, director of the Nashville Public Library and co-chairman of the NLC. “This is an important indicator of future success because it marks the transition from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn.’ Doubling the number of Nashville students to reach this milestone is a lofty goal, but one we believe we can reach, even more so now with the support and resources offered by the GLR Campaign.”
Membership in the GLR Communities Network gives Nashville access to experts and policymakers focused on early literacy, assistance in addressing the challenges that keep many children from learning to read, and opportunities to share and learn best practices from more than 360 communities in 43 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.
