Literacy in Central Texas: United Way for Greater Austin highlights reading challenges
The Greater Austin Reading Coalition and United Way for Greater Austin hosted the first Greater Austin Reads Together Day at the Austin Central Library on Saturday, highlighting the essential role of literacy in shaping children's futures.
Founded in 1924, United Way offers education programs and resources for families living in poverty. The Greater Austin Reading Coalition, assembled by United Way and founded in 2021, aims to support children in kindergarten through third grade to ensure they are reading on or above grade level by the fourth grade.
The event aimed to address literacy disparities in education, particularly in Title I schools — schools with a higher percentage of students living in poverty than the district average.
Here are the main things that United Way and the Greater Austin Reading Coalition want you to know.
What is 'The Right to Read' about?
Saturday's event included a free public screening of the documentary "The Right to Read." According to the film's website, "The Right to Read" shares the stories of an NAACP activist, a teacher and two American families who fight to provide the youngest with the most foundational indicator of lifelong success: the ability to read. The film seeks to raise awareness on the U.S. literacy crisis and to educate audiences on the science of reading.
Barriers to literacy in Central Texas, nationally
The Greater Austin Reading Coalition identified three major challenges to literacy, according to data shared by Michelle Hutson-Crawford, director of K-3 education for United Way for Greater Austin.
Just 35% of Black/African American students and 41% of Hispanic students in Central Texas met grade-level reading standards in third grade in 2023, according to the E3 Alliance, an education collaborative based in Austin. This starkly contrasts with 67% of white students and 77% of Asian students.
One in 3 children lives in a low- or very low-opportunity neighborhood, according to the research site Diversity Data Kids. Low-opportunity neighborhoods are based on economic and demographic factors such as income level, educational opportunities and health environment.
Children not reading at the grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school, according to the Anne E. Casey Foundation.
Literacy can influence lifelong success
Candace Hunter, a trustee of the Austin school district board, cautioned that poor literacy greatly hinders one's chances for success, including access to jobs, adequate salaries, education and the ability to support a family.
"From zero to third grade, you are learning to read. From third grade to the time you graduate, you are reading to learn," Hunter told the American-Statesman. "If a student struggles with reading, they will struggle with learning."
Hunter invoked a quote from Frederick Douglass: "Once you learn to read, you will forever be free."
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: United Way for Greater Austin highlights literacy challenges for kids
