Campaign for Grade Level Reading Comes to United Way NSV

In a recent discussion on the Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomed notable guests Andy Gail from United Way Northern Shenandoah Valley's CEO, and Matt Peterson, the Executive Director for the John and Janice Wyatt Foundation. The conversation revolved around innovative efforts and collaborations aimed at improving early childhood education through the Campaign for Grade Level Reading. United Way Northern Shenandoah Valley was recently named to manage the program. The John and Janice Wyatt Foundation, established in 2019, has been passionately involved in supporting early childhood education. Matt Peterson shared that the foundation initially focused on providing grants in specific communities to back early childhood outreach, quality, and access. However, it quickly became evident that impacting the educational system required more than just targeted grants; it needed a community-wide effort. This realization led them to embrace the 'Campaign for Grade Level Reading,' a model aimed at unifying communities around early childhood education. The campaign emphasizes the importance of ensuring children reach grade-level reading by third grade, a critical milestone for their future academic and life success. According to Peterson, vast amounts of research highlight that if children do not achieve grade-level reading by third grade, their chances of future success dwindle significantly. This inflection point is crucial as education transitions from 'learning to read' to 'reading to learn,' and children who fall behind may find it exceedingly difficult to catch up. Seeing positive shifts in absenteeism rates and assessment scores over a short period is testament to the campaign's early success in Winchester, Virginia, and Dorchester County, Maryland. The collaborative approach the campaign has adopted allows for the pooling of resources and ideas, and leverages a national network of more than 350 communities. These shared experiences and best practices are pivotal in driving local impacts. An exciting aspect of the discussion was the various innovative initiatives currently underway. For instance, the laundromat reading program engages Hispanic families over a casual setting, promoting the importance of education and literacy. Other programs include attendance competitions that reward students for regular attendance, transforming going to school into an exciting and rewarding activity. Peterson stressed the importance of a broad, inclusive approach incorporating parents, educational systems, and local governments. He highlighted that parents are pivotal in their children's educational journeys. Therefore, educating parents about the importance of early literacy is a crucial component of the campaign. While highlighting the indispensable role United Way Northern Shenandoah Valley has played in the campaign's progress, Andy Gail remarked on the power of collaboration. Janet's double role as the host and chair of the United Way Northern Shenandoah Valley board was humorously noted, showcasing the deeply interconnected community working together towards this common goal. As they wrapped up, Gail recognized the honor and responsibility of United Way Northern Shenandoah Valley leading this change. With optimism and gratitude, he looks forward to furthering this mission, striving to bring about substantial improvements through collective efforts and sustained community engagement. The conversation concluded with an open invitation to the community to participate, ask questions, and become part of this transformative journey. The unyielding message was that together, the community can achieve great milestones in ensuring every child has the chance to succeed through education.