Early Literacy and Childhood Development
Forecasted
Early Literacy and Childhood Development supports organizations serving Arkansas families with early literacy programs that help children read at grade level by the end of third grade.
Funder: Arkansas Community Foundation
Due Dates: Contact your local affiliate for application timelines
Funding Amounts: Not specified
Summary: Supports early literacy programs that engage Arkansas families and help children read at grade level by the end of third grade.
Key Information: Early Literacy grants are offered only through participating affiliates’ Giving Tree applications; confirm availability with your local office.
Description
Arkansas Community Foundation partners with Excel by Eight to help every child in Arkansas read at grade level by the end of third grade. Its Grade-Level Reading grants support programs such as Imagination Library, Reach Out and Read, Raising a Reader, and other proven approaches to engaging families in early literacy. Early Literacy Giving Tree grants are managed locally by participating affiliate offices, using Aspire data to address community needs.
The initiative responds to 2023 ACT Aspire assessment results showing that only 32% of Arkansas third graders read proficiently. Third-grade reading is a priority because the transition to fourth grade marks a shift from learning to read to reading to learn. Supported work spans family engagement, school readiness, classroom instruction, attendance, summer learning loss, and whole-child supports.
