In its 1985 report, “Becoming a Nation of Readers,” the National Commission on Reading has noted that the single most significant factor influencing a child’s early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning kindergarten.

Census and other data from Chelsea - made available through our friends at Strategies for Children – remind us of the achievement gap that limits children from reaching their potential in this  community.

Because of this and other factors, Chelsea was named one of the Commonwealth’s Gateway Cities. As such, the city is receiving special attention and funding to support education improvements.  

Raising A Reader MA’s work in Chelsea is part of the Gateway Cities solution. Our partnerships are successfully increasing the rate at which families of young children read with their children at least three times a week by an average of 25% every year. 

Raising A Reader MA in Chelsea 

2006 was the first year of programming.

1,200 children and families are currently being served in Chelsea.

There are 15 public  school classrooms using Raising A Reader MA:

• John Silber Early Learning Center

There are 36 classrooms in six child care centers using Raising A Reader MA:

• A Kangaroo’s Pouch
• Best Friends Early Learning Center
• CAPIC Child Development Center
• CAPIC Head Start
• Central Avenue Child Center
• Child Focus Center

There are three home visiting programs that integrate Raising A Reader MA as part of their intensive, in-home parenting support:

• Harbor Area Early Childhood Services
• Healthy Beginnings-Healthy Futures
• Phoenix Charter Academy

Other partners include Centro Latino, Intergenerational Literacy Program, Chelsea High School teen parenting program, the Chelsea/Revere Family Network, MGH Speech and Language Programand 24 family child care providers.