Read Better Be Better (RBBB) was founded by Sophie Etchart in 2014 in Phoenix as a response to Arizona’s literacy crisis. The state is ranked 45th in the nation for childhood literacy and 48th for PreK-12th education. Currently, 66% of 3rd graders from low-income families in Arizona do not read at grade level and often are unable to make the necessary transition from “learning to read” to “reading
to learn” by 4th grade. Students who do not read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade are four times less likely to graduate from high school. But with proper reading intervention, there is an 89% chance that students who can read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade will graduate from high school, irrespective of socio-economic status. RBBB’s mission is to connect young readers and youth leaders to inspire a love of literacy and learning in order to create a society in which all children master the foundational skills necessary to become independent learners. The organization’s after-school program serves 2nd - 4th grade Readers who have been identified by their teachers as needing targeted reading intervention. The Readers are paired for a semester with middle - high school age Leaders. The Leaders are provided with ongoing training in implementing reading strategies, leadership, and coaching skills by RBBB Program Coaches, many of whom are education majors. Together the Program Coaches, Leaders, and Readers work to improve concentration, reading comprehension, and the enjoyment of reading. RBBB currently partners with 10 districts in 62 schools, serving a total of 3,968 Readers and Leaders across Maricopa and Pinal counties.
