#LiteracyIsJustice
While East Nashville Hope Exchange exists to serve families and students of all races, ethnicities, and countries of origin, 93% of the families and students that take part in our literacy program each year are Black. We affirm wholeheartedly that Black lives matter, and that the work of literacy goes beyond teaching children to read and extends to teaching them to comprehend the world around them and empower them to make it better. This is why we have always had an organizational commitment to the truth that literacy is justice—that literacy is a justice issue that affects all other areas of life.
We know that children with low levels of literacy are more likely to interface with the criminal justice system, are less likely to graduate high school on time or at all, and earn less over the course of their lives than children with high levels of literacy. And we are committed to championing not just equality but equity for our Black students and other students of color as we seek to make literacy available and accessible to all.
We stand with the families of East Nashville Hope Exchange, and we share their commitment to investing in their students. We remain deeply committed to our mission to strengthen the literacy of children in East Nashville, and further committed to investigating how East Nashville Hope Exchange can play a part in the larger project of eliminating racism in our families, our communities, and our world.
We know that children with low levels of literacy are more likely to interface with the criminal justice system, are less likely to graduate high school on time or at all, and earn less over the course of their lives than children with high levels of literacy. And we are committed to championing not just equality but equity for our Black students and other students of color as we seek to make literacy available and accessible to all.
We stand with the families of East Nashville Hope Exchange, and we share their commitment to investing in their students. We remain deeply committed to our mission to strengthen the literacy of children in East Nashville, and further committed to investigating how East Nashville Hope Exchange can play a part in the larger project of eliminating racism in our families, our communities, and our world.
Read on to learn about why we believe Literacy Is Justice:
All students can fall behind academically during summer break from school, but students from low-income families are affected disproportionately.[1]
Low-income students lose two to three months in reading achievement over the summer, while their higher-income peers tend to make slight gains.[2]
The average weekly cost of a summer program nationwide is $250 per student, which equates to nearly one-third of a weekly salary for a single parent earning the median income.[3]
By the 5th grade, cumulative years of summer learning loss can leave low-income students up to three years behind their peers.[4]
2/3 of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare.[5]
Children from low-income families are at greater risk of entering school unprepared.[6]
Children’s early vocabulary skills are linked to their economic backgrounds. By 3 years of age, there is a 30-million-word gap between children from the wealthiest and poorest families.[7]
One out of six children who do not read at age level by the end of 3rd grade will not graduate from high school on time.[8]
Children who live in print-rich environments and are read to during the first years of life are more likely to learn to read on schedule.[9]
Children from middle-income homes have on average 13 books per child. There is only one book for every 300 children in low-income neighborhoods.[10]
All students can fall behind academically during summer break from school, but students from low-income families are affected disproportionately.[1]
Low-income students lose two to three months in reading achievement over the summer, while their higher-income peers tend to make slight gains.[2]
The average weekly cost of a summer program nationwide is $250 per student, which equates to nearly one-third of a weekly salary for a single parent earning the median income.[3]
By the 5th grade, cumulative years of summer learning loss can leave low-income students up to three years behind their peers.[4]
2/3 of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare.[5]
Children from low-income families are at greater risk of entering school unprepared.[6]
Children’s early vocabulary skills are linked to their economic backgrounds. By 3 years of age, there is a 30-million-word gap between children from the wealthiest and poorest families.[7]
One out of six children who do not read at age level by the end of 3rd grade will not graduate from high school on time.[8]
Children who live in print-rich environments and are read to during the first years of life are more likely to learn to read on schedule.[9]
Children from middle-income homes have on average 13 books per child. There is only one book for every 300 children in low-income neighborhoods.[10]
Sources:
[1] https://tn.chalkbeat.org/2015/6/17/21092343/low-income-students-stand-to-lose-more-with-summer-learning-loss
[2] https://www.brookings.edu/research/summer-learning-loss-what-is-it-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/
[3] https://tn.chalkbeat.org/2015/6/17/21092343/low-income-students-stand-to-lose-more-with-summer-learning-loss
[4] https://www.summerlearning.org/the-challenge/#:~:text=The%20cumulative%20effect%20is%20a,or%20go%20on%20to%20college.
[5] https://gastonliteracy.org/literacy-in-america/#:~:text=Literacy%20in%20America-,Literacy%20in%20America,without%20learning%20how%20to%20read.
[6] https://www.insightintodiversity.com/povertys-long-lasting-effects-on-students-education-and-success/
[7] https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/feb2014/the-word-gap#:~:text=Children's%20vocabulary%20skills%20are%20linked,gap%20is%20evident%20in%20toddlers.
[8] https://gradelevelreading.net/uncategorized/study-links-3rd-grade-reading-poverty-and-hs-graduation#:~:text=One%20in%20six%20children%20who,than%20that%20for%20proficient%20readers.
[9] https://ferstreaders.org/resources/fifty-top-literacy-statistics
[10] https://www.childrensbookbank.org/research-1
[1] https://tn.chalkbeat.org/2015/6/17/21092343/low-income-students-stand-to-lose-more-with-summer-learning-loss
[2] https://www.brookings.edu/research/summer-learning-loss-what-is-it-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/
[3] https://tn.chalkbeat.org/2015/6/17/21092343/low-income-students-stand-to-lose-more-with-summer-learning-loss
[4] https://www.summerlearning.org/the-challenge/#:~:text=The%20cumulative%20effect%20is%20a,or%20go%20on%20to%20college.
[5] https://gastonliteracy.org/literacy-in-america/#:~:text=Literacy%20in%20America-,Literacy%20in%20America,without%20learning%20how%20to%20read.
[6] https://www.insightintodiversity.com/povertys-long-lasting-effects-on-students-education-and-success/
[7] https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/feb2014/the-word-gap#:~:text=Children's%20vocabulary%20skills%20are%20linked,gap%20is%20evident%20in%20toddlers.
[8] https://gradelevelreading.net/uncategorized/study-links-3rd-grade-reading-poverty-and-hs-graduation#:~:text=One%20in%20six%20children%20who,than%20that%20for%20proficient%20readers.
[9] https://ferstreaders.org/resources/fifty-top-literacy-statistics
[10] https://www.childrensbookbank.org/research-1