Campaign for Grade-Level Reading in Baltimore

Baltimore’s work inspired by the national Campaign for Grade-Level Reading has begun! A group of Maryland Philanthropy Network members met in May and June to discuss plans to more strategically align what we do to ensure Baltimore City’s children are reading by third grade. The group discussed the pivotal role that third grade reading plays to promote student success, and its special significance for Baltimore. 

The group hopes to expand to include additional funders, key nonprofits, leaders from Baltimore City Schools, and other key stakeholders. In the coming weeks, we plan to develop a "dashboard" to illuminate the data related to third grade reading in Baltimore (including the NAEP vs. MSA distinctions); develop a timeline and strategy for Baltimore; quantify investments in Grade Level Reading using information from Maryland Philanthropy Network’s Profile of Education Giving; and work with key individuals and organizations to conduct scans to understand status and opportunities for expanded investment in summer learning, reducing absences, strengthening teaching quality, especially in the early grades, and improving school readiness.   

We hope you can join us at 10:30 AM on July 28th (following the Focus on City Schools meeting)  - please rsvp to Lisa Kane at lkane@aecf.org. 

If you are interested in learning more about local efforts around the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading but cannot attend the July 28th meeting, please contact Karen Alexander at kalexander@marylandphilanthropy.org.