Why Millions of Kids Never Become Confident Readers (And How You Can Help)

Last year I received a call from a parent that nearly made me cry. Her father couldn't read, but her son wanted to share his Kids Read Now books with his grandpa. So they learned together. Over time, they both became avid readers. The grandson gained a vital life skill. The grandfather discovered the joy he'd missed his entire life. But for millions of kids across America, that breakthrough never happens. They never get the consistent access to books they need to become confident readers. The Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight In Wyoming, Goshen County School District celebrated when 100% of their K–6 students reached grade level by May 2023. Then summer happened. By fall, only 50% were still on track. The principal knew they had to try something different. Last year, they partnered with Kids Read Now for their summer reading program. Once again, 100% of students reached grade level by May. This time, when fall arrived, 91% were still reading at grade level. Same school. Same students. The only difference? Books chosen by each child, matched to their interests and reading level, mailed one at a time to their homes throughout the program. On top of that, the Kids Read Now program costs just 3% of a traditional summer school program. And it works year-round. The Results Last year, Kids Read Now served 103,000 students across 46 states, delivering 543,000 books directly to their homes throughout the year. 97% of participants maintained or improved their reading skills. Students in the program gain an average of 3 months of reading ability. These are kids who would have otherwise fallen behind. Your Investment Changes Lives $50 sponsors a child through the program. $500 sponsors a classroom. The question isn’t whether consistent access to books transforms young readers. We’ve proven it does. The question is how many children we can reach. Make Your Investment Today. Kids Read Now is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization. Your donations are tax deductible. Donate Thank you for supporting literacy. Kristen Walter, Ed.D. CEO, Kids Read Now