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.
Data from Everett, Malden, and Medford - made available through our friends at Strategies for Children – remind us of the achievement gap that persists in each of these communities.

These achievement gaps helped Everett, Malden and Medford each become one of the Gateway Cities in the Commonwealth. As such, they are receiving special attention and funding to support education improvements.  

Raising A Reader MA’s work in Everett, Malden, and Medford 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 Tri-City 

2007 was the first year of programming.

1,511 children and families are currently being served in Tri-City.

There are 62 public school classrooms using Raising A Reader MA:

• Adams School (Everett)
• Webster School (Everett)
• Malden Early Learning Center

There are 11 classrooms in two child care centers using Raising A Reader MA:

• Malden YMCA
• Tri-CAP Head Start

Other partners include Eliot Early Intervention, St. Anthony’s Church, and 20 family child care providers.