For more than a decade, Virginia Beach GrowSmart has actively participated in the national Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Network. Today, more than 350+ communities across the nation belong to the network. By focusing on school readiness, reducing chronic absence, and preventing summer learning loss, local campaigns are dedicated to improving the reading proficiency of young children by third grade. Reading proficiency by the end of third grade is a critical milestone toward high school graduation and career success because it marks the transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” Students who have not mastered reading by that time are more likely to drop out of high school and struggle throughout their lives. This benchmark is the single best predictor of on-time high school graduation. 

Membership in the national network connects Virginia Beach with other community coalitions, enabling us to exchange ideas, share resources, and collaboratively tackle tough problems. The Campaign also offers its member communities technical assistance to implement actions plans, as well as exclusive access to partnership and funding opportunities.

Our local campaign, Virginia Beach READS is led by Virginia Beach GrowSmart and partners include Virginia Beach City Public Schools, the Virginia Beach Public Library, Department of Parks and Recreation, the VB Office of Volunteer Resources; the non-profit organization Square One; Mile High Kids Community Development, GrowSmart Foundation and United Way South Hampton Roads.

As a member of the National Campaign for Grade Level Reading, Virginia Beach READS focuses on three pillars of success proven to directly impact reading proficiency. By emphasizing the importance of kindergarten readiness, summer learning and reading proficiency Virginia Beach READS is committed to moving the needle on school readiness and third grade reading. Our work has been recognized with Pacesetter Honors for our population-wide progress demonstrated in the areas of school readiness and reading proficiency. By connecting with early care and education providers, families and engaging our community as reading mentors we are supporting our early learners to be successful in school.