Read On Arizona Receives Grant to Fuel Collaboration for Literacy

Helios Education Foundation will invest $875,000 over the next three years in support of Read On Arizona’s collaborative efforts to improve early literacy in Arizona.

The grant award will help expand Read On Arizona’s capacity to build coordination around evidence-based strategies to boost school readiness and third grade reading outcomes.

Research shows that students who don’t read proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to leave high school without a diploma.

“This work is central to our mission,” said Paul J. Luna, president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation. “Read On Arizona provides the leadership and long-term vision that we need to get more of our students on track for education success, and we’re committed to helping sustain it.”

Helios is part of Read On Arizona’s advisory board and collaborates with other foundations for overall support of Read On Arizona as well as specific state and local early literacy strategies. Philanthropic partners in Read On Arizona include the Arizona Community Foundation, the Burton Family Foundation, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, the Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, the Steele Foundation, and Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust.

“Helios has been integral to the work of Read On Arizona since its inception,” said Arizona Literacy Director Terri Clark, who leads the work of Read On Arizona. “Our partnership is especially critical now, as we support the implementation of our five-year plan for improving literacy in our state.”

The latest grant from Helios, made via the Arizona Community Foundation, home to the Read On Arizona Collaborative Fund, will support several new and ongoing activities, including:

• Coordinating outreach and collaboration for Arizona Literacy Plan 2030.
• An action plan to support recommendations and resources developed by the Arizona Chronic Absence Task Force.
• A multi-state convening of literacy and education policy leaders.
• Analysis of early learning gap data to support stakeholders working to expand access to quality early learning programs, part of the Arizona Education Progress Meter.
• Incubating an initiative to integrate early numeracy and early literacy to help children develop interrelated skills and abilities.

“Our shared goal is 72% of third graders in Arizona at reading proficiency by 2030,” Clark said. Less than half (39%) passed the most recent state assessment. “It’s ambitious but attainable. We can get there if we all work together.”