Did you know that children who read proficiently by third grade are more likely to graduate from high school and earn higher wages later in life? This week, we are diving into research about the importance of early grade reading.

Reading proficiently by third or fourth grade is a strong predictor of long-term success, including high school graduation, postsecondary attainment and long-term health. When students fall behind early, those gaps often widen over time and can limit future opportunities. That’s why StriveTogether tracks early grade reading as a key cradle-to-career outcome and partners with communities to strengthen early literacy systems. Explore the research to learn how early literacy skills help students remain on a path to upward mobility.

Children who are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to leave high school without a diploma, and for children from low-income families, that risk rises to thirteen times higher. In Spartanburg, South Carolina, the Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM) is bringing community partners together to tackle barriers like poverty and limited access to care. Read the full case study to see how this Cradle to Career Network member helped transform early outcomes like early grade reading.

Strong early literacy doesn’t just improve academic results; it also boosts economic opportunity. Adults who score at minimum proficiency in literacy earn an average of $63,000 annually, while those below proficiency earn just $48,000.

The StriveTogether Early Grade Reading Outcomes Playbook shares the latest research and best practices to help community leaders co-design strategies, spot opportunities and build support for investing in early literacy. Explore the playbook to learn more about early grade reading outcomes.