Raising a Reader

Raising A Reader is a national program proven to build literacy through family engagement.

Thanks to the success of our Classic Red Book Bag Rotation model and the launch of new programs, Sup

Goal One: Launch Raising A Reader's new pilot program enlisting pediatricians in reinforcing literacy routines through well-child visits by September 2022.

Goal Two: In 2019, Raising A Reader approved a three-year 2020-22 strategic plan that included a 15% growth goal to serve 200,000 children, families and caregivers by 2022. In 2021, we reaching 150,000.

Goal Three: Implement our Race Equity Agenda to address the impact of racial injustice and inequities on the children and families we serve by ensuring and implementing best practices and policies.

Raising A Reader is committed to recruiting, hiring and supporting a diverse staff that includes supporting a leadership team of six that is 50% people of color. We host biannual in-person leadership retreats that include all six members of our national team in addition to supporting staff at all levels in attending and presenting at national conferences.

Raising A Reader supports 285 Affiliates who administer our programming at nearly 3,000 implementation sites across 36 states, providing books, curriculum, training and ongoing support. We also collaborate with national partners like the Campaign for Grade Level Reading (CGLR), a collaboration of foundations, nonprofits, states, and communities focused on the No.1 predictor of school success: third grade reading. RAR President and CEO, Michelle Torgerson, was a featured panelist at an invite only CGLR launch session, “Assume Collaboration: A Consultative Conversation on Aggregating for Impact.” Torgerson is also partnering with leaders in the field to promote “Radical Collaboration” in the quest for early literacy for all. Guests have included President and CEO of Council for a Strong America, Brian Ford, Superbowl Champion and Literacy Advocate, Malcom Mitchell, and President and CEO of Strive Together, Jennifer Blatz who recently joined the Raising A Reader board of directors.

Raising A Reader's programming was greatly impacted by the pandemic which included school closures. Our Classic Red Book Bag rotation model includes weekly rotation of books throughout the school year and our trainings were mostly in-person prior to the pandemic. We adapted by providing training and ongoing support to our Affiliates virtually and launching two new programs suited to social distancing. These models, Super Summer Learning Adventures and Family Shared Reading Program, were based on our Classic Red Book Bag Rotation model but instead of rotating books weekly, these new models helped families build at home libraries. Children were allowed to keep the books, materials and bilingual curriculum which included weekly activities in English and Spanish. We plan to continue providing all three program models and virtual training opportunities.