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Children's Reading Foundation tells board Ready for Kindergarten reached parents and Team Read served 453 students in KSD
Summary
The Children's Reading Foundation briefed the board on Ready for Kindergarten and Team Read programs in Kennewick. Staff reported 2,581 Ready for Kindergarten workshop participants (goal 2,500), 84% of parents reported regular play-with-purpose use, and Team Read served 453 students with 75 graduates in the year reported.
Leaders from the Children's Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia presented program updates to the Kennewick School District Board, highlighting Ready for Kindergarten and Team Read, two district‑partnered early literacy initiatives.
Leanne Luvers Purcell, the foundation's executive director, described Ready for Kindergarten as a parent‑education program that provides toolkits, books and training starting at birth and continuing through age 5. The foundation reported 2,581 workshop participants or module completions in the year reviewed, exceeding a stated goal of 2,500. In an end‑of‑year survey, 84% of parents who responded said they used program activities at least three times for ten minutes per day, and the program is offered in English and Spanish with dashboard translations into multiple languages.
Erin Lee, educational programs director, described Team Read as a one‑on‑one volunteer tutoring program for K–3 readers, operating in 10 elementary schools in Kennewick. Team Read reported serving 453 students (goal 370) and recorded 75 graduates who the teacher and volunteer determined had reached grade‑level proficiency during the year. The foundation noted increased training for volunteers, a Tri-Tech internship partnership that expanded from 14 interns to 28, and efforts to align Team Read materials with district literacy curriculum.
Board members asked about outcomes tracking and whether Ready for Kindergarten participation could be linked to kindergarten readiness measures. Foundation staff said they can collaborate with district staff to match rosters where families consent in order to close the loop on impact analysis. Staff also described targeted outreach strategies to reach lower‑income families and early‑age cohorts.
The foundation asked district leaders to continue partnership and offered ways for the community to donate books or funds (website: www.read20minutes.com).
