The America Reads Challenge is a grassroots national campaign that challenges every American to help all our children learn to read, including English Language Learners and students with disabilities. America Reads sparks collaborations between educators, parents, librarians, business people, senior citizens, college students, and community and religious groups.

The America Reads Challenge:

Inspires families to read together at home.

Asks childcare providers to read daily to children.

Encourages teachers to use research-based methods.

Recruits college students and others to tutor children.

Engages businesses to involve employees.

Unites communities to form strong partnerships.

Americans are responding to the Challenge!

At more than 1100 colleges and universities, students earn financial aid by tutoring children in reading. Some also tutor parents in family literacy programs.

More than two million children have been taught, tutored, or mentored through national service programs such as AmeriCorps, VISTA, and Foster Grandparents.

Pediatricians are reading to children, advising parents, and giving away free books to children as part of their check-ups. Volunteers model reading aloud for parents.

Hundreds of communities are coming together to recruit tutors, organize book drives, and support parents, child care providers, and schools.

Nearly 300 organizations—religious groups, businesses, schools, literacy groups, libraries, museums, media outlets, children’s, parents’, and teachers’ organizations—have joined the President’s Coalition for America Reads.