Dive Brief:

• Energizing Education, part of the Cradle 2 Career network and local United Way in Jackson, MI, was recently awarded $100,000 from the Dorothy Levy Literacy Endowment Fund and the Jackson Community Foundation.
• The funds will be used to improve literacy among K-2 students who are slightly below grade level but not far enough behind to require extra intervention.
• The goal of the program and grant is to get all Jackson County students reading at grade level by the time they enter the third grade.

Dive Insight:

Nationally, third grade is considered a key year for children, especially when it comes to reading. In fourth grade, students move beyond the mechanics of learning how to read and are actually pushed to understand and critically examine what they are reading. This shift means that those who are struggling can quickly get left behind. Programs like Energizing Education aim to mitigate this gap, working with students who aren't necessarily eligible for outside interventions but still need the extra boost.