Texas communities have been working for many years to increase reading skills. Start Smart Texas is building on the work already going on throughout the state to remove barriers to child success and to learn from each other. We want your community to join with us in making sure ALL children read on grade level by the end of third grade. Join us
This is a collaborative effort by foundations, nonprofit partners, business leaders, government agencies, and communities across the state to ensure that more children in low-income families succeed in school and graduate prepared for college, a career, and active citizenship. This effort includes a focus on an important predictor of school success and high school graduation—grade-level reading by the end of third grade.
Research shows that proficiency in reading by the end of third grade enables students to shift from learning to read to reading to learn, and to master the more complex subject matter they encounter in the fourth grade curriculum. Texas communities have joined with the national Campaign for Grade Level Reading to learn from other state initiatives and to access the latest research on successful strategies.
Although schools are charged with helping all children achieve, this Texas initiative is based on the belief that schools cannot succeed alone. Engaged communities mobilized to remove barriers, expand opportunities, and assist parents in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities to serve as full partners in the success of their children are needed to assure student success.
If you want to connect with the lead partner in your community, contact us.