Our Challenge: 86 percent of kindergartners enter school unprepared to learn; only three out of 10 third graders are reading at grade level. The FWL is a pivotal player in a city-wide collective impact effort to address these challenges. The library led the 2017 summer learning campaign and brought more than 20 community organizations and three city departments together to offer 99 learning opportunities. Each opportunity includes well-defined objectives centered on literacy, science, technology and math.

Key elements: inclusion of learner objectives that are aligned with the state and school district standards and training staff to develop and deliver program content. Internally, this approach is shifting the personal perceptions of staff, now beginning to see themselves as direct educators versus informal teachers. Equally important, is that the library’s role as a key player supporting a city-wide issue positions the Library as a major player in driving community change.

Achieved: FY 2016, the FWL provided 389 classes reaching 6,143 participants with success measured through customer feedback. Anticipated: By 2025 100 percent of third graders will read at or above grade level. Graduation rates increase, students go to college, ultimately transforming individuals and community. Through the collective impact effort, the library’s participants will be measured using Lexile to determine if summer slide occurred. The library’s status in the out of school educational arena will be enhanced.