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“We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.” ~ Stacia Tauscher
Ralph Smith, Anne E. Casey Foundation
And, maybe more to the point, recent studies show that the quality of children’s first years may well determine their tomorrow.
In three of the last four years, the City of New Britain has had the lowest reading scores among its third graders in the State. Two-thirds of the children starting fourth grade in New Britain cannot read at grade level. But a wide-spread commitment to reversing those daunting, negative statistics was unveiled September 14, 2010 at the New Britain Public Library with the announcement of the Campaign for Grade Level Reading.
The New Britain Early Childhood Collaborative, which is financially supported and housed by the Community Foundation, will build on their recent study, “A Blueprint for Improving the Lives of New Britain’s Young Children, Birth Through 3rd Grade” with the launch of the Campaign for Grade Level Reading within the city of New Britain.
The Campaign will provide a framework for the implementation of the Blueprint study’s multi-faceted strategies. The Annie E. Casey Foundation, one of the funding organizations for the Campaign, recently released a special report called “Kids Count” which focuses on the paramount importance of children reaching grade level reading by the 3rd grade.
 To kickoff the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, Casey Executive Vice-President, Ralph Smith, along with David Nee, Executive Director of the Graustein Memorial Fund announced the launch of the Campaign. Also participating in the announcement was Dr. Doris J. Kurtz, Superintendent of the Consolidated School District of New Britain, Judith Meyers, President and CEO of the Children’s Fund, Jim Horan, Executive Director CT Association of Human Services and Jim Williamson, President of CFGNB.
“We have a long way to go to close the reading gap and improve literacy for New Britain’s children,” explains Williamson. “Changing these statistics is really important for our children and the future economic vitality of the city. For us, this Campaign is a natural extension of the Foundation’s 5-7 year, $1 Million early childhood development initiative, First Years First, and helps assure that our efforts to prepare young children for school success are continued in the later years.”
 Research says that the first five years of life are critical in putting our children on the path to success. Children who have a healthy early childhood development experience prior to kindergarten are more likely to perform at a higher academic level and become more productive members of society. The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain recognizes the critical importance of supporting children and their families.
“Honor Role”
If you have skills or interest in helping with any of the First Years First initiatives through volunteering your time or donating to the cause, please join us on our mission to help ready our children for success in school and in life.
For more information on the Campaign for Grade Level Reading
Contact:
Merrill Gay, NBECC Executive Director
860.229.6018 x. 309
merrillg@nbdiscovery.org
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