Read 20

"We are all in this together"

"There is nothing more important to the long-term success of this community and each of its citizens, than the ability of each child to read well and at grade level, by the end of 3rd grade. We have the opportunity and capacity to positively change the lives of children across Hamilton County - quickly, profoundly, and with long-lasting effects." ---Mayor Claude Ramsey

A child's ability to read effectively directly impacts his or her future opportunities for success in all aspects of life, ranging from education and job preparedness to self-esteem and quality of life, according to the Annual Report 2005-2006 for Beginning with Books Center for Early Literacy. Based on the premise that all children can learn and every child should learn to read, the goal for the Hamilton County community is:

By 2010, at least 95% of all Hamilton County students will read at or above grade level by the end of the 3rd grade and thereafter will maintain or improve their grade level equivalence.

Providing children with the opportunity to learn basic reading skills and fostering an appreciation for books creates a desire for learning and makes a lifelong difference for every child. Therefore, reading is the cornerstone of our community's trainable workforce and our economic development. Our community is responding to these challenges through Read 20.

As a direct outgrowth of the 2004 Education Summit, Read 20 is focused on creating a community of readers. The mission for Read 20 is a public/private partnership promoting literacy skills for early childhood, in an effort to create a community of readers, and in support of Hamilton County's community literacy goal.

Read 20 will accomplish this through the following goals and strategies:

Promote Reading to Infants and Young Children

Increase public awareness on the value of reading to infants and young children for 20 minutes or more each day and its impact on personal success and economic vitality in the community.

Engage and Encourage Community Literacy Efforts Focused on Early Childhood Development

Convene community, faith-based organizations, businesses, educators, and parents to support efforts in improving early childhood literacy being made across the community
Increase efficiency and effectiveness of existing community resources directed at early childhood literacy, by identifying potential partnerships and strategic alliances.

Activate our community

Create and maintain an early childhood literacy network that provides strategies and support for parents, teachers, and other community/business members who want to engage children in reading
Conduct research and focus groups in the community to better understand local reading behaviors, and to set benchmarks for improvement.
Engage community in ongoing benchmarking process.
Create an effective grassroots outreach for community change through participation by parents, early childhood educators, and members/leaders of faith-based, community, and business organizations.

Every sector of Hamilton County is needed to help children read to succeed. Various community constituencies already are coalescing behind this grassroots movement, from county government, to business leaders, to educators, to citizens countywide. The Read 20 board is a diverse group of Hamilton County residents representing these and other constituencies and is working to maximize current resources and identify potential resources and tools that will support the initiative.

The message is also clear:
The benefits are endless. Yet it will take the cooperation of all who touch the lives of the children in our community to accomplish the task.

Read 20 would appreciate your efforts to become involved. You may contact the staff at Read 20 at:

Read 20
317 Oak Street
M L King Bldg, 109
Chattanooga, TN 37402

423.209.6190 office
423.209.6191 fax
ShulaY@HamiltonTN.gov