The achievement gap between rich and poor.

 

It widens every summer.

It’s not easy to get students to do their summer reading. But more and more studies are showing it’s crucial. In fact, students who read during the summer are far more successful at maintaining — and enhancing — the knowledge they’ve gained during the school year. Students who don’t read, on the other hand, lose valuable ground in the academic process.

The real problem is with underprivileged students. They lack the resources higher-income families can provide such as ready access to books and mentoring — along with extra-curricular learning activities such as educational camps and trips.

 
 
 

“I’d just like to say that this a very unique program that has been an important part of my summers for the past several years. Read to Succeed has kept me reading new things and expanding my interests. Thank you.” – 8th grader

 
 
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You shouldn’t need to be affluent to be fluent in reading.

Rhode Island does not rank well amongst New England states for reading skills.  In fact, the 2019 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook placed the state’s 8th grade reading proficiencies last in the region.  Even more alarming is the fact that only 13% of low-income 8th graders met Reading Skills expectations versus 41% of higher-income students. Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS) scores demonstrated only 144 of 1,703 (8%) Providence 8th grade students met Reading Skills expectations. Thus, the importance of Read to Succeed could not be more essential for the low-income Providence students we serve.