ABOUT THE FILM
The Right to Read shares the stories of an NAACP activist, a teacher, and two American families who fight to provide our youngest generation with the most foundational indicator of life-long success: the ability to read.
The Statistics
37% of 4th graders in the United States read “below basic” according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress
According to NAEP, “below basic” by default and denotes performance that falls below our lowest performance level. In simple terms, reading at “below basic” level means you cannot read.
67% of 4th graders who are English Learners are reading below basic levels.
52% of 4th graders eligible for free and reduced-price lunch are reading below basic levels. Children from families with incomes at or below 130% of the Federal poverty level are eligible for free meals.
Adult Literacy
54% of Americans between the ages of 16 and 74 read at a level below that of the sixth grade (Gallup, 2020).
Adults who struggle to read are more likely to be unemployed, underemployed, and incarcerated (World Literacy Foundation, 2018).
A study by Gallup on behalf of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy estimates that low-literacy levels among U.S. adults could be costing the economy $2.2 trillion a year (Gallup, 2020).
According to the National Adult Literacy Survey, 70% of all incarcerated adults cannot read at a fourth-grade level (National Assessment of Adult Literacy, 2003).
The Stories
Kareem Weaver
Kareem Weaver, an Oakland NAACP activist, believes literacy is our most important civil right. He is fighting for a world where 95% of children can read. With a focus on Black and brown children, Kareem demands to bring science-based reading instruction to Oakland schools and causes national interest by taking on the publishing industries.
You can learn more about Kareem's work and his non-profit FULCRUM (Full and Complete Reading is a Universal Mandate) here.
Sabrina Causey
First-grade teacher Sabrina Causey was given a reading curriculum in Oakland as a rookie teacher that did not work. It encouraged students to guess at words and use pictures for clues; she only had one student who could read at grade level. Without the district's approval, she worked with Kareem to incorporate a curriculum based in the science of reading.
The results were astounding.
The Hunter Family
The Adams-Staples Family
Melinda and Fred met in Jackson, Mississippi and moved to the Delta with their two children. They worry about 4-year-old Fred Jr.'s education; only 21% of children can read at grade level in their district.
Melinda signs Fred Jr. up for community programs that focus on kindergarten readiness with science based reading software. The family will do anything to ensure their children receive the education they need.
Teresa focuses on language development with her toddler daughter Ivy to set her up for reading success by increasing her vocabulary and the numbers of words spoken at home.
As a literacy advocate for a local Virginia Beach program, Teresa is hoping to re-enroll in college and get her degree in early childhood education once Ivy starts preschool.