National League of Cities Supports Campaign for Grade-Level Reading

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Jun 16, 2011, 10:34 ET

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an effort to help students from low-income families read proficiently by the end of third grade, the National League of Cities (NLC) pledged its support today for the National Civic League's 2012 All-America City Awards competition. Conceived as part of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, the 2012 competition specifically focuses on community plans to increase grade-level reading proficiency.

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NLC, through its Institute for Youth, Education and Families (YEF Institute), will encourage city leaders to compete for the Award and assist communities that accept the grade-level reading challenge in developing their local plans through audioconferences and other peer learning opportunities. In addition to NLC, United Way Worldwide and the U.S. Conference of Mayors have also agreed to serve as partners in this national effort.

The National Civic League's All-America City Awards program recognizes cities and towns for outstanding civic accomplishments. Supporting the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, the 2012 awards will honor communities that address three major obstacles to reading proficiency: a lack of school readiness among younger children, chronic absenteeism which reduces the amount of instructional time received; and summer learning loss in which students lose ground academically between school years. For more information on the All-America City Awards program, visit http://www.allamericacityaward.com/.

According to a recent report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, more than 80 percent of students from low-income families do not read proficiently by the end of third grade. Failure to reach this key milestone puts them at greater risk of dropping out of high school, engaging in criminal activity and struggling to find work, thus placing more strain on their communities.

Through its work on early learning and early childhood success, the YEF Institute creates valuable tools and resources for city leaders, develops peer learning networks and provides technical assistance to local officials and senior staff who are committed to early learning and helping all children to read at grade level by the end of third grade. For more information on NLC's early childhood success work, visit http://www.nlc.org/find-city-solutions/iyef/early-childhood.

The Institute for Youth, Education and Families, an entity within the National League of Cities, helps city leaders take action on behalf of the children, youth and families in their communities. NLC launched the YEF Institute in January 2000 in recognition of the unique and influential roles that mayors, city council members and other local leaders can play in strengthening families and improving outcomes for children and youth.

The National League of Cities is the nation's oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.

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SOURCE National League of Cities