Thirty years ago, educator Alice Thomas was sitting at her dining room table when she had the idea of creating an organization to better help students succeed. Today, The Center for Literacy and Learning, the result of that idea, continues to work on behalf of all children, regardless of their background or how they learn. Our mission is to advance literacy and learning through evidence-based practices in the classroom, home, and community.
Research shows that reading affects all other aspects of academic achievement and is a significant factor in health and quality of life outcomes.
Students who are not reading proficiently in third grade:
- Are four times more likely not to graduate high school?
- Are six times more likely to drop out or fail to graduate from high school if they are black, brown, or Hispanic?
- And are eight times more likely to drop out or fail to graduate from high school if they are a low-income minority?
High school dropouts:
- Are not eligible for 90% of the jobs in the economy,
- Have yearly earnings that are less than 50% of someone who earns a Bachelor’s Degree, and
- Make up nearly 50% of all heads-of-households on welfare
You can make an impact!
Help us make a difference. Literacy and learning work to empower a child, making them feel more confident. It allows them to explore new places and experience broader horizons. Provides them a path to follow. And gives them control of their life. Everyone is empowered by literacy and learning.
Every minute counts because every child counts. Today, only 36 percent of 4th graders in the United States are reading proficiently. More than 1 billion people in the world today are illiterate. That is one in every eight people.