A Milestone Moment for Literacy in Louisiana
The latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) bring encouraging news. Louisiana’s fourth-grade reading scores have made a historic leap, climbing from 42nd in the nation to 16th. This progress validates the evidence-based strategies championed by educators, advocates, and organizations like United Way of Southeast Louisiana.
Our New Orleans Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (NOLA-GLR) has long championed the idea that children learn to read until third grade and then read to learn for the rest of their lives. This philosophy reinforces our efforts to ensure every child reaches grade-level reading proficiency by the end of third grade, a critical predictor of future success.
The Science of Reading in Action
Louisiana’s remarkable improvement is credited to a shift toward evidence-based literacy instruction, particularly the science of reading. This method, emphasizing phonics, fluency, and comprehension, mirrors the strategies we advocate for in classrooms, community programs, and early learning centers.
The gains among economically disadvantaged students, who outpaced the national average, reinforce NOLA-GLR’s mission: closing opportunity gaps and ensuring all children – regardless of their ZIP code – receive the support they need to succeed.
Early Investments Yield Big Results
We know that early intervention matters. That’s why, across our entire seven-parish service area, UWSELA has prioritized:
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Improving school readiness by advocating for increased funding for high-quality early care and education, ensuring our youngest learners have a strong foundation
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Enhancing attendance and reducing chronic absenteeism, recognizing that students need to be in class to build essential literacy skills
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Expanding access to summer learning and tutoring, echoing the state’s push for individualized literacy support beyond the school day
Looking Ahead: The Work Continues
While we celebrate this progress, we know the journey isn’t over. Through our support of the region’s Ready Start Networks, funding for high-quality early care and education, and commitment to improving literacy outcomes, UWSELA remains dedicated to making third-grade reading proficiency the norm, not the exception.
The numbers prove it. When we invest in early literacy, we change lives. And when our children can read, they can learn – about history, science, the world around them, and most importantly, about their limitless potential.
United is the Way we create a future where every child reads on grade level. Join us.
Living United,
Todd A. Battiste
Senior Vice President, Education & Youth Initiatives
United Way of Southeast Louisiana