Programs
Every Child Can Read’s goal for Wayne County youth aged 0-5 is to increase the number of Wayne County children who enter school prepared to learn. Our programs encourage parents and caregivers to read with their children 20 minutes every day from the day they are born. We provide children 0-5 with FREE age-appropriate books and adults with tips to encourage them to read daily with their children. By partnering with local healthcare providers, schools, civic organizations, and youth programs, ECCR strives to reach every family with young children in Wayne County.
The intent of The Reading Academy is to ensure that every child in the Richmond community reads at grade level by the end of third grade. Third grade is generally regarded as a critical point in a child’s educational development. Research shows that those children who cannot read at grade level at this stage are at a significant disadvantage throughout their education career. The academy is designed to focus on students individual educational needs. Classes are held each year in non-traditional learning venues within the Richmond community.
“Research showed that children who were read to from birth were better prepared to learn than their peers who were not read to. Reading is the answer, but more so the importance of parents reading with their children from the day they were born.”
– Rick Ahaus, Board Member and Founder