As many New Hampshire students return to school after February vacation, they will no doubt begin to participate in celebrations of National Reading Month. Each year, the month of March reminds many adults of the creativity and imagination found in the pieces penned by Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, Judy Bloom and so many other classic children’s authors.
In this month of celebration, we, as a community, need to recognize the social and economic power of literacy. I was shocked to learn that, according to the NH Department of Education, nearly 1 in 4 New Hampshire students fell below proficiency standards in reading in 2011. For these students, getting back on track in reading is critical to their future and the future prosperity of our state.
Early reading mastery is one of the best predictors of children’s ultimate success in school and in life. A strong foundation in reading created in elementary school is linked to higher academic achievement, increased rates of retention, and higher graduation rates. Third grade reading and math scores have been identified as strong predictors of which students will drop out before graduation. On average, a high school dropout will cost his or her community over $260,000 over the course of his or her lifetime. Despite New Hampshire’s low dropout rate, the dropouts from 2011 alone will cost our state over $138 million.
Strong readers live longer, more productive lives. They have higher annual incomes, lower rates of poverty, and a lower individual risk of unemployment. Teenagers who are on track in reading are less likely to participate in substance abuse and well-educated communities experience lower rates of violent crime. This link between reading and criminal behavior is so strong that some states have begun planning space for their future prison populations based on how well third graders are reading (Cushman, 1998).
March may be National Reading Month, but our enthusiasm about reading cannot be limited to 31 days a year. Let each of us take a role, large or small, in the literacy of our communities. Donate books to local schools. Talk about the importance of literacy. Read to your children, or better yet, volunteer to read at a local childcare center. The social and economic future of our state will be shaped by today’s young readers. Let’s help them get off to the best start we can.
Patrick Tufts, MSW
President and CEO
President and CEO
Granite United Way
