30% of Sarasota third graders are reading below grade level.
Reading proficiency by third grade is a crucial predictor of high school graduation and career success; yet, 30% of Sarasota County’s third graders are reading below grade level – most of whom come from vulnerable families. At Sarasota’s twelve Title 1 elementary schools, 50% of third grade students are reading below grade level.
While these statistics expose pressing issues impacting our community, these challenges, if left unaddressed, impede progress being made towards breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty, reducing the achievement gap between students, and reducing high school dropout rates across our communities.
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading arose as a call to action to reverse these trends and mobilize communities at the federal, state, and local levels to expand opportunities and remove barriers that impact a child’s ability to realize their full potential. The Campaign recognizes that effective collaboration among individuals, nonprofits, government agencies, and local foundations is critical for achieving and sustaining gains in grade-level reading proficiency.
Effective collaboration is critical for achieving and sustaining gains in grade-level reading proficiency.
Communities committed to the goal of helping students achieve reading proficiency by third grade focus their efforts within one or more of the five solution areas: School Readiness, Attendance, Summer Learning, Family Engagement, and Health Determinants.
Each community partner contributes their knowledge, expertise, and resources in one or more of the five key solution areas empowering students to a greater likelihood of success.
The Community Foundation has been collaborating, connecting, and convening as the Sarasota County lead for Grade-Level Reading since 2014.
Beginning in 2014, when our Community Solutions Action Plan for Sarasota was accepted into the National Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County established a robust collaborative of community partners to empower children and their families toward success. As the Sarasota lead for grade level reading, we are committed to empowering our community partners through collaboration, connecting, and convening.
The Community Foundation concentrates our grade level reading work within an attendance zone of four Title 1 elementary schools in North Sarasota whose students have the most need and the most to gain through our concentrated efforts. We work closely with the principals, teachers, and support staff at Alta Vista, Emma E. Booker, Gocio, and Tuttle.
Our grade level reading work is focused on three specific solutions areas: School Readiness, Summer Learning, and Parent Success. This laser-focus approach has yielded significant impact for students by closing achievement gaps and increasing the chances of reading success.
Focusing our grade-level reading efforts on four Title 1 elementary schools and three of the solution areas increases the chances of students achieving grade-level success.
Parents and caregivers are the “secret sauce” to their children’s success.
Our grade level reading work incorporates a two-generation approach, working with both children and their families who are facing a variety of barriers to ensure they have the necessary support and encouragement to be successful.
Research indicates that increasing a family’s income, helping them broaden their community support network, and strengthening their role as their child’s first teacher greatly improves the chances that children will be academically successful.
Summer Learning
Discover how our commitment to supporting summer learning opportunities is mitigating the summer slide and closing the achievement gap.
School Readiness
We are committed to supporting programs that prepare children for success in kindergarten.
Parent Success Program
We adhere to the belief that a child’s success is increased with a two-generation (2Gen) approach that support the whole family.
In April 2015, a collection of local foundations including The Patterson Foundation, nonprofit partners, and government agencies throughout Sarasota and Manatee County came together to form a shared regional vision, the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.
As one of more than 390 campaigns nationwide, our region’s four-county effort strives to change the trajectory for our region’s most vulnerable families through five solution areas proven to ensure early childhood success:
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School Readiness
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Attendance
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Summer Learning
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Family Engagement
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Health Determinants
Learn more about the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.
May 29, 2024
Suncoast Remake Learning Days attracts more than 36,500 participants at expanded festival
December 3, 2021
Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading 2021 Community Update
July 23, 2020
Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Celebrated as National Pacesetter for Sixth Consecutive Year
July 7, 2020
2020 Great Futures Academy Summer Program
December 11, 2019
Empowering Families and Individuals to Succeed
July 8, 2019
The Power of Summer Learning: Thoughts on My Alta Vista Eagle Academy Experience
July 1, 2019
Independence Day, Netflix, and our Courageous Community
June 1, 2019
From Surviving to Thriving
April 1, 2019
Hope & Belonging
Our four-county region has been recognized locally and nationally for its collective achievements in summer learning, mental health, and parent education. Notable milestones include:
2014 |
Beginning in 2014, Community Foundation of Sarasota County established a robust collaborative of community partners to empower children and their families toward success. |
2015 |
Community Foundation of Sarasota County named a Pacesetter Community. |
2016 |
Community Foundation of Sarasota County named a Pacesetter Community. |
2017 |
Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading honored with an All-America Cities Award and three Communications Expo Awards. |
2018 |
Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading was named a Pacesetter Community. |
2019 |
Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading named a Pacesetter Community. |
2020 |
Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Fund
To support the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading efforts to ensure that all children receive the support necessary to read proficiently by third grade. The geographic focus is our four county region of Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Charlotte counties.