Early reading achievement is vital to academic and life success.  Students who fail to master reading by the third grade do not develop the foundation of skills necessary to succeed in subsequent grades and across subjects.  They are subject to substantial decreases in self-confidence and motivation to read if they are unable keep up with age peers (National Institute of Child Health & Development, 1998). Poor reading skills affect society as well as the individual. Low literacy levels show a strong correlation with poverty, crime and unemployment (National Dropout Prevention Center, 2005).

More than half of economically disadvantaged 4th graders nationwide perform below grade level in reading, compared to 21% of non-economically disadvantaged 4th graders (National Assessment of Educational Progress, U.S. Department of Education, 2007). In New York City, 56% of Black students and 49% of Hispanic students in grades 3 through 8 read below grade level (New York City Department of Education, 2007).