Stateline Community Foundation outlines countywide early‑learning campaign, Read, Talk, Play, Everyday

Jessica Austin, director of early brain development for Literacy for Life at the Stateline Community Foundation, told the School District of Beloit Board of Education on Feb. 18 that the group is launching Read, Talk, Play, Everyday, a countywide effort to promote early learning from birth through age 5.

The campaign combines a “tool kit” of books, a family poem booklet and a developmentally aligned toy given to families at birth with 12 short how‑to videos and Basics Insights, a free research‑based text messaging service. "Our mission at Literacy for Life is to ensure that every child in Rock County is prepared to succeed upon entering kindergarten," Austin said.

Why it matters: Austin cited research connecting early experiences and later reading and math outcomes, attendance and long‑term success, and said the work reduces later intervention needs for the district. The program is presented as a community‑wide effort: materials will be distributed through all Rock County birthing hospitals (SSM, Mercy and Beloit Health System), schools, libraries and partner organizations.

Program details: Basics Insights sends age‑specific facts on Mondays and practical, no‑cost activities on Wednesdays. Messages are available in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Arabic; Austin said families receive surveys at enrollment and periodically afterward. The literacy campaign includes: - A birth tool kit with two board books, a family poem book, a resource booklet and a single toy designed to “grow” with the child through age 5. - A website hub with videos grouped by age, pause‑and‑learn stations, printable resources and a community calendar for free or low‑cost family events. - A dashboard for partner organizations to track sign‑ups and local metrics; Austin said the county program currently has "over 800 families" signed up and the school district’s dashboard showed 73 families enrolled through district channels.

Board response and district alignment: Board members praised the program and asked that the presentation be shared with the full board. Superintendent Doctor Garrison and district staff said the district has coordinated with the organization and will include promotional material in registration packets and other outreach. Garrison said the district values community partners that align with early literacy goals.

Context and next steps: Austin said Read, Talk, Play, Everyday will roll out late spring to early summer, with tool kits distributed at the county’s birthing hospitals. She also described Basics Insights as part of a broader Thrive by 5 coalition, convened with Rock County Public Health, to streamline support for prenatal to age‑5 families.

Austin closed by inviting board feedback and collaboration; board members asked the district’s communications staff to circulate the presentation to all board members.