Paterson Reads is a community collaboration convened by Paterson Education Fund and Paterson Alliance in support of the Paterson Public Schools Superintendent's call for improved student achievement. We align community resources to improve summer reading, strengthen early learning, and reduce chronic absenteeism with a focused goal of ensuring every child reads on grade level by 3rd grade.
Paterson Reads partners with the Paterson Public Library's summer reading program to bring books, reading circles, and literacy activities to children across our city. With over 20 agencies working together through the Collaborative Summer Library Program.
This year's theme is "Unearth a Story", a fun exploration of dinosaurs, archaeology, and paleontology that's sure to spark curiosity and excitement in young readers! 🦕📖
Visit the Paterson Free Public Library to learn more, and remember to sign up your library card!
We've established exciting new partnerships with Dear Reader Books in Wyckoff, NJ and the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood to create curated book bundles for the young scholars in our PR summer programs. This collaboration will allow us to provide age-appropriate, diverse reading materials packaged specifically for different reading levels and interests. The partnerships represent a significant enhancement to our book distribution strategy and ensure quality literary selections for our young readers. Please feel free to post and distribute these flyers - for print or for digital distribution.
Increase Early Learning
Paterson Education Fund is proud to partner with Reach Out and Read, a nonprofit with one of the strongest research records in primary care intervention. Studies show that when parents receive books and literacy guidance from their doctors and nurses, they are more likely to read to their young children, read more often, and keep more books in the home. Children from low-income households who are exposed to Reach Out and Read show meaningful improvements in language development — a critical foundation for school readiness.
For more information, go to reachoutandread.org.
More about Paterson Reads
Paterson Reads is one of 160+ communities across 41 states and 350 school districts participating in the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading — a national movement to ensure more children are reading well by the end of third grade. The Campaign brings together foundations, nonprofits, states, and communities to support children in low-income families in succeeding in school and graduating prepared for college, career, and civic life.
At the heart of the Campaign is a clear, research-backed milestone: children who read on grade level by the end of third grade are able to shift from learning to read to reading to learn. Students who miss this milestone often struggle in later grades and are at much greater risk of dropping out before earning a diploma. Nationally, two-thirds of fourth graders are not proficient readers — and for children from low-income families, that number rises to more than four out of five.
Schools must be accountable for providing effective teaching for every child, every day, but they cannot do it alone. Paterson Reads is built on the belief that engaged communities, supportive families, and strong schools working together are what it truly takes to ensure every child succeeds.
For more information, go to gradelevelreading.net.
Collaborators & Contact Info
Paterson Education Fund stimulates community action for change so that the Paterson Public Schools ensure that all children reach high standards. For forty years and counting, PEF has continued to help educate Paterson community leaders at all levels about the educational needs of Paterson children. Through forums, workshops, partnerships, and direct programming, PEF provides access to information and training. As convenor of Paterson Reads, PEF continues to provide leadership to improve literacy in Paterson.
Rosie Grant, Executive Director, (973) 881-8914, rosieg@paterson-education.org
The Paterson Alliance’s mission is to advance the quality of life in the City of Paterson through the creation of community partnerships and collaborations. With more than 70 not-for-profit members spanning the gamut of community services, the Paterson Alliance builds a more vibrant Paterson.
Shanikwa Lemon, Director of Programs, (973) 519-3655, slemon@patersonalliance.org
The Paterson Free Public Library, New Jersey’s first public library, opens doors to ideas, discovery, knowledge, and experiences to help people realize their dreams. They pledge to become the knowledge and information sanctuary for the whole community; the community’s living room, with resources, programs, and facilities that meet the needs of all who live, work, and learn in Paterson.
Corey Fleming, Director, (973) 321-1216, fleming@patersonpl.org