The Big Lift

The Big Lift A bold venture to close the opportunity gap so more kids succeed. In San Mateo County, we want all our children to get the right start.

Today, kids from prosperous families get quality preschool and enrichment of many kinds in the first five years of life, when 95% of brain development occurs.The other kids usually don’t. Up to third grade, kids learn to read. After, they must read to learn. This is a critical inflection point where we lose children we need for our knowledge economy. This is not a minor issue. 43% of our county’s

children are not reading proficiently by third grade. The Big Lift is a bold social venture that aims to transform early learning. It combines high-quality and connected learning experiences from preschool to third grade, with a focus on reducing chronic absence and summer learning loss, and engaging families and the broader community to support learning in school and at home. We have built up to over 200 organizations working together and have raised $28 million in two years. But that is only the beginning. It will take an estimated $50 million a year to make this work long-term for all the kids who need support. We know this county has what it takes to get the job done.

At The Big Lift, we created Let’s Read San Mateo County for families to explore easy, age-appropriate ways to read, talk...
11/25/2025

At The Big Lift, we created Let’s Read San Mateo County for families to explore easy, age-appropriate ways to read, talk, and play together at home.

Think you know what helps children learn to read? Every family builds literacy in different ways — through stories, songs, conversations, and play.

Answer: All of the above!

Each of these activities helps children develop confidence, language, and curiosity. Learn more by visiting https://letsreadsmc.org/

The Big Lift’s Fall Knowledge Network Convening brought together educators and community partners to explore how social-...
11/25/2025

The Big Lift’s Fall Knowledge Network Convening brought together educators and community partners to explore how social-emotional learning and early literacy go hand in hand to help children in San Mateo County flourish.

Workshops were led by incredible local and regional leaders, including Andrea Burnett from the San Mateo County Office of Education, Susan Andrien from Hope Reimagined, and Gretchen Livesey from the Center for Whole-Child Education. Each session offered strategies to support children’s learning, well-being, and sense of belonging.

Together, we’re strengthening the early learning community across San Mateo County. Read more about the day’s highlights: https://thebiglift.org/advancing-literacy-and-social-emotional-learning-in-san-mateo-county/

Families are experts in their children’s learning. Their experiences and ideas are helping The Big Lift and our partners...
11/21/2025

Families are experts in their children’s learning. Their experiences and ideas are helping The Big Lift and our partners strengthen literacy and family engagement across San Mateo County.

When families lead, children thrive.

See how family voices are shaping our work:https://thebiglift.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-Big-Lift-Strategic-Plan-2023-26.pdf

Let’s Read SMC, a website created by The Big Lift, promotes the importance of children reading with caring adults at eve...
11/20/2025

Let’s Read SMC, a website created by The Big Lift, promotes the importance of children reading with caring adults at every age.

For babies and young children, reading together can be as simple as turning pages, looking at pictures, and exploring books through play. These small moments help children build curiosity, language, and a love of stories that will grow with them over time.

Find tips for reading at home with your child: https://letsreadsmc.org/reading-at-home/

The Big Lift developed Let’s Read San Mateo County to give families and caregivers the ability to support their child’s ...
11/19/2025

The Big Lift developed Let’s Read San Mateo County to give families and caregivers the ability to support their child’s literacy development. Storytime videos are a fun way to bring books to life and help families build a love of reading together.

Families can enjoy free, high-quality storytime videos in a variety of languages anytime, anywhere. From read-alouds with educators to stories paired with activity guides, these videos make it easy to bring reading into daily life.

Explore our favorite storytime videos and find your next family read: https://letsreadsmc.org/storytime-videos/

Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 1454, a new law that calls for evidence-based reading instruction an...
11/18/2025

Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 1454, a new law that calls for evidence-based reading instruction and additional training for teachers across California. This is an important step toward helping every child learn to read with confidence.

At The Big Lift, we share that goal and have been working toward it for more than a decade. Our approach combines research-based literacy instruction with high-quality preschool, summer learning, and family engagement to help San Mateo County children become confident readers.

We’re encouraged to see the state moving in this direction and will continue striving for the highest standards in effective and equitable literacy for all children.

Learn more: https://edsource.org/2025/governor-newsom-signs-literacy-bill/742396

11/17/2025

This November, we’re celebrating ! It’s an opportunity to celebrate the vital role families play in helping children learn, grow, and thrive.

At The Big Lift, we know that strong family partnerships are key to helping children become confident readers. As part of our 2023–2026 Strategic Plan, we are strengthening how we partner with families to support children’s literacy and learning.

This work is informed by parents and caregivers themselves, ensuring that family engagement strategies are designed with families, not just for them. With schools and community partners, we’re building shared approaches that improve how families, educators, and communities support reading success and regular attendance.

Learn more about our family engagement goals:https://thebiglift.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-Big-Lift-Strategic-Plan-2023-26.pdf

Do you have feedback to share with The Big Lift? We’d love to hear from you — send us a DM!

Reading opens doors to brighter futures, and The Big Lift is making that possible through collective impact. At our rece...
10/08/2025

Reading opens doors to brighter futures, and The Big Lift is making that possible through collective impact. At our recent collective impact convening meeting in September, partners, families, and community leaders came together to recommit to helping every child become a confident, joyful reader in San Mateo County. 📖

Discover more in our latest blog post: https://thebiglift.org/coming-together-for-literacy-in-san-mateo-county/

On September 4th, The Big Lift brought together partners, families, and community leaders to celebrate the power of lite...
10/03/2025

On September 4th, The Big Lift brought together partners, families, and community leaders to celebrate the power of literacy. From heartfelt stories to inspiring milestones, the day was a reminder that when the community comes together, the children of San Mateo can thrive. 📚

Thank you to our partners San Mateo County Office of Education, Supervisor Noelia Corzo, Izzi Early Education, and Millbrae Elementary School District. Read more about the event and the impact of The Big Lift on our blog: https://thebiglift.org/coming-together-for-literacy-in-san-mateo-county/

09/05/2025

You know your child best, and you have the power to support their reading journey. Let’s Read SMC is a website led by The Big Lift developed to support families with helpful tools to support your child’s reading journey. Visit letsreadsmc.org to learn more.

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