ReadWorks

Of the various plights facing Americans today, one has gone overlooked: the reading comprehension crisis. And, yes, this is as critical as all the other front-page headlines in the news.

Consider this: Only 33% of U.S. fourth graders are proficient in reading. And research shows that when students are not proficient readers by this age, they are more likely to face negative outcomes, such as dropping out of school and lower lifetime earnings. We’re failing our children—and our educators, too, by not equipping them with the proper tools. 

You can understand why this issue is so alarming—and why we need to take action now.

This quarter, Veronica Beard is proud to partner with ReadWorks, which is dedicated to solving America’s literacy crisis and student achievement gap by providing all educators and K-12 kids with the high-quality reading content and curricular supports they need—for free. Already, the program is used by nearly one million teachers and over 11.5 million students each year.

What sets ReadWorks apart from other similar organizations is research; the scientific study of reading is the bedrock of its world-class material. And the impact is real: Studies show using ReadWorks positively impacts students’ standardized reading test scores. The nonprofit is also committed to advancing educational equity and reaching students within under-resourced schools. The goal is one we can all get behind: ensuring that every child can become a successful—and joyful—reader.

We hope you join us. Motherhood has long been the backbone of Veronica Beard—the Veronicas are both parents, with eight children between them—and this cause is deeply important to us.