Case for Support
When children lack access to literacy-rich experiences before age 5, they can fall behind and may never catch up.
Early Literacy Is a Key Marker of Success
Early literacy doesn’t just shape individual futures — it shapes our communities. From education and job opportunities to community health, strong early learning has a lasting impact.
Research shows that simple, everyday moments — being read to, talked to and sung to — build essential language and comprehension skills in early childhood. When children have these experiences regularly, they are 40% less likely to fall behind in school — increasing their chances of graduating and succeeding in life.
But not all children have the same access. In Arizona, achievement gaps begin before kindergarten. About 20% of children under age 5 live in under-resourced communities where these gaps are the widest — and where intentional support can make the biggest difference.
40%
When children read, talk and sing regularly, they are 40% less likely to fall behind in school.
1 in 3
Children under age 5 live in poverty and are in danger of falling behind before they start kindergarten.
4x
Children who struggle to read in fourth grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school.
How Make Way for Books Is Making a Difference
Make Way for Books works in communities across Arizona to close this gap. We help children from birth to age 5 build the early literacy and language skills they need to start school ready to learn.
Our early literacy programs focus on the adults in a child’s life — parents, caregivers and educators, who already have what it takes — providing research-based tools, coaching and engaging experiences that turn everyday interactions into meaningful learning.
Our two signature programs work together: Educator Literacy Collaborative equips early educators in childcare and preschool settings with coaching and resources, while Birth to Five Literacy Journey supports families with fostering their child’s learning through bilingual, evidence-based learning experiences in trusted community spaces. And our app extends our reach by turning smartphones into libraries, storytimes and educational playrooms — anytime, anywhere.
Together, these programs reach more than 10,000 children, parents, and educators each year. And we see real change in the adults’ approach: 73% of parents and 79% of educators practice effective strategies to foster their children’s language and literacy development with high frequency after program participation. These high-quality early education experiences before age 5 make all the difference.
The learning that happens before they start kindergarten prepares children to succeed in school and to read proficiently by third grade—a key milestone linked to high school graduation rates and lifelong success. This is workforce development and a key economic driver.
When we invest in early literacy, we help level the playing field and build a stronger, more successful Arizona.
Before participating in the program, I knew how to take care of kids. Now I know how to teach kids.”
Participating educator, Educator Literacy Collaborative
