Reading is Fundamental: Advocacy Blog (PADM-4226-R50)

Advocacy Blog

The opinions below are my own and documented here for a class assignment.

We have all heard the phrase, “Reading is Fundamental,” and that adage has never been more prevalent than now with the rise of remote learning and homeschooling. 

The Challenge:

The devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children was palatable as they adjusted to online instruction and the loss of their social interactions. Thankfully, the organization Reading is Fundamental (https://www.rif.org/) recognized the urgency and shifted their response to assist children and their parents charter this new learning territory.

About RIF:

Reading Is Fundamental, the nation's leading children's literacy non-profit, is dedicated to creating a literate America by instilling a love of reading in all children, offering high-quality content that has an impact, and including communities in the solution to ensure that every child has the foundation for success. Reading Is Fundamental is a 501(c)(3) organization, with an IRS ruling year of 1973 (RIF.org).

According to the rif.org website:

• 34% of kindergarteners lack basic reading skills
• 65% of 4th graders read below grade level

RIF's strategy was based on the core belief that independent reading is essential for learning and achievement. RIF supported initiatives to improve learning at home by offering access to books and reading resources in both print and digital versions to complement the lessons provided by educators with parents playing a supporting role. RIF was able to equip teachers, parents, and students with quick, practical materials that could be utilized anywhere, at any time.

In my review of the program and solution, I noticed that two of the three solutions were digital solutions: online content / reading activities and daily read alouds on Facebook (rif.org). While for many, this is a viable solution, for most it is not due to limited access to internet services. In fact, according to a 2021 Pew Research report, a combined 72% of students in the United States had to either complete their homework on a cellphone, via public WIFI, or simply could not complete it at all (Lake & Makori, 2021).

How to Adjust

So, what can be done? Personally, I would like to see RIF remove themselves from the digital arena altogether and focus 100% of their efforts into putting books in the hands of children. Just look at the success of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This organization, also a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, puts books in the hands of young children from birth to age five (Dolly Parton's imagination library 2022). Imagine the impact a partnership between these organizations would have if, when the child turns five, their information was passed on to Reading is Fundamental and they continued sending a monthly book home until the student graduated high school. In fact, one the child starts school, I would suggest the parent/guardian should confirm the student is still in school in order to stay in the program. Why? Because according to rif.org, the above noted 65% of fourth graders who are reading below grade level account for nearly 8000 high school dropouts each year. 

A partnership between these organizations would require a new strategic plan, input from each board, and most likely a separate division rather than changing the core purpose of each organization. Another idea would be to create a new holding charity with both charities being wholly owned subsidiaries of the new entity with separate boards for all three. Separate boards mean each entity is front of mind for someone, and there is always someone serving and advocating for the cause (Worth, 2019, p. 116).

In Conclusion

The benefit of these 501(c)3 nonprofits and the mission of these organizations is that I believe the community will wholeheartedly support their existence via financial gifts. If they remain a 501(c)3 donors can gift up to 60% of their income (Worth, 2019, p. 29). As advocates for literacy, this merger of organizations would greatly impact the cause for the lifetime of a child (Worth, 2019, p. 305). I think that’s a good thing.

REFERENCES

Dolly Parton's imagination library. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. (2022, March 15). Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://imaginationlibrary.com/ 

Lake, R., & Makori, A. (2021, November 22). The digital divide among students during COVID-19:    Who has access? who doesn't? Center on Reinventing Public Education. Retrieved April 21, 2022,        from https://crpe.org/the-digital-divide-among-students-during-covid-19-who-has-access-who-           doesnt/ 

RIF.org. (2022, April 1). Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://www.rif.org/ 

Worth, M. J. (2019). Nonprofit management: Principles and practice. Sage Publications.