Early Grade Reading

This SC2C Community Action Network (CAN) focuses on literacy in the early grades, giving children a good foundation for later learning. Studies show that children who are reading at grade level by Grade 3 are more successful in school and life.

All Stamford children will be reading at or above grade level, by the end of 3rd grade

Before third grade, children are learning to read. After third grade they are reading to learn. Reading well by third grade predicts high school graduation rates, as well as positive social-emotional adjustment.

The Early Grade Reading CAN represents Stamford’s collective commitment to making sure our most fragile children are reading well by third grade. Key partners in this work include the Stamford Public Schools as well as Ferguson Library, after-school and enrichment programs, and parents.

  • SC2C Early Childhood

Measuring Success

47

% average percentage of Stamford Third Graders who met or exceeded state reading standards over a four year period (source EdSight)

10

hours of ongoing professional development provided to community partners on how to build literacy rich environments for children (source 2020 and 2021 trainings through May 2020)

45

students provided with summer literacy support in 2020 aimed at reducing summer learning loss

CAN Initiatives

Professional Development

The Early Grade Reading CAN coordinates regular professional development opportunities for the staff of community center, after-school, and summer camp programs. Stamford Public School facilitators work with the staff of these organizations to provide information about classroom curriculum. Out-of-school providers can then help students with their homework. All community partners are on the same page in reinforcing literacy skills. 

Learn More About 2022-2023 Early Grade Reading Professional Development Series

Learn More About Supporting Social Emotional Wellness for Students

Learn More About 2021 Supporting Literacy Outside of School Series

Summer Literacy

The Stamford Summer Literacy Initiative is designed to prevent the loss of reading skills in children over the summer. Without focused literacy time, high needs students fall behind on average 2+ months each summer, with a cumulative effect that puts them 2.5 to 3 years behind their peers by the end of 5th grade. The initiative works by embedding public school literacy teachers in community center summer camp programs to provide consistent literacy instruction and training camp staff to create a literacy rich environment. Conducting a city-wide public awareness campaign for summer reading in partnership with the Ferguson Library to ensure that children are reading with their families. 

2022 Summer Literacy Initiative Report

2021 Summer Literacy Initiative Report

2020 Summer Literacy Initiative Report

Early Grade Reading (CAN) Leadership/Contributors

Co-Chairs:

Members/Affiliates:

Member lists are updated annually.

Action Plans

To effectively measure and identify effective practices while aligning resources, we have designed and developed a detailed Action Plan process. The process and the related template were created in close partnership with Stamford Public Schools and the Superintendent’s team. This process is consistently followed by all CANs. Each CAN is at a different stage of action plan completion, depending on the complexity of its objectives and the available data.

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