Learning begins long before a child enters school. The reading development foundation built in the early grades — kindergarten, first, second and third grade — plays a crucial role in increasing opportunities for all youth. Research shows that children who develop strong early reading skills are far more likely to excel in school and succeed in life.

The StriveTogether Early Grade Reading Outcomes playbook serves as a comprehensive guide to the latest research on and best practices in supporting early literacy. It equips community leaders with the tools to identify opportunities, co-design effective strategies with their communities and build support for collective investment in early literacy.

How to Use the Early Grade Reading Playbook

Mathematica’s Education-to-Workforce Framework is the inspiration behind the playbook’s organization and content. The playbook provides research-based guidance to help community leaders:

• Identify priorities
• Track key indicators to measure community-level progress
• Design strategies with stakeholders
• Build collective support for investments in early childhood development

How the Early Grade Reading Playbook Complements Mathematica’s Education-to-Workforce Framework

The playbook supplements Mathematica’s Education-to-Workforce Framework by incorporating research on early childhood reading development, strategies for improving reading outcomes in grades K-3, the need for high-quality, trained representative educators and more. Additional practices and policies expand on the Education-to-Workforce Framework to incorporate the Science of Reading research and to improve accessibility for community-based organizations.