Louisville Growing Readers
The Louisville Growing Readers program harnesses the power of a large urban community by bringing together nonprofit organizations, major funders, cultural institutions, and the school district to improve literacy outcomes for underserved families.
Metro United Way, Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), and the National Center for Families Learning have teamed up with sponsors and other partners in the Ready for K Alliance to support family literacy.
Beginning in 2021, more than 5,000 4- to 6-year-old JCPS students were registered to receive a 100-book home library of culturally relevant books for beginning readers. Registered households were sent 25 weekly shipments of four books. Weekly shipments engaged families by including a tip card with ideas about how to establish a routine of daily reading. Families also received text or email messages about shared book reading.
A total of 878,000 books were distributed, 9,508 families participated, and 10 local books were created.
Before Growing Readers, only 29% of participating families reported that they read with the child several days a week. After the program, 92% of families reported that they read with their child several days a week.