Texas communities have been working for many years to foster and encourage child success. Start Smart Texas is building on the work of local communities to remove barriers and to learn from each other.
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 are needed to ensure success.
If you want to connect with the lead partner in your community, contact us.