Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading

Suncoast Summer Reading Challenge Blast Off Event

April 2015 – Present

Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading

The Purpose

Part of a nationwide movement, the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is a four-county initiative fostering wide community participation to achieve shared aspirations for the success of families and children. The Suncoast region — Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties in Florida — is focused on addressing the most common issues and obstacles that impact a child's ability to read, which affects their overall ability to learn.. A brighter future for all children is at the core of the nationwide Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. An effort of more than 390 communities across the country — including the Suncoast region in Florida — to increase early-reading proficiency, the Campaign brings ways to deliver support and resources to children in need by mobilizing a broad base of stakeholders to improve school readiness, attendance, and summer learning opportunities for children from asset-limited families.

Strengthening the Impact

With support from The Patterson Foundation, strategic resources, including funding endeavors, strengthen the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading along with the statewide Campaign for Grade-Level Reading in Florida. As an anchor funder of the nationwide Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, The Patterson Foundation strengthens the movement by connecting and providing technical assistance, support, and thought partnership at the national, state, and local levels.

FAQ's

Click on frequently asked questions below to learn more about this initiative...

Why does The Patterson Foundation support this initiative?

Across Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties, dozens of nonprofits, schools, community organizations, agencies, and individuals are doing meaningful work related to the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. While each county has unique, locally informed approaches to serving children and families, there is much to learn and share together. Boundary-spanning activities and approaches benefit all four counties as each works toward helping children learn how to read by the end of third grade — to succeed in school and life. Addressing one of the most critical issues of our time, The Patterson Foundation supports strengthening the efforts of people, organizations, and communities as they come together to increase early literacy and improve the future for all children.

How does this initiative enhance our quality of life?

Civic Responsibility — An educated community means a stronger future for everyone. It means communities where more people are prepared for higher education and are ready to enter military and civilian service. It means stronger communities prepared to compete in the global economy.

Education — To increase early-reading proficiency, the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading delivers support and resources to children by mobilizing a broad base of stakeholders, tapping into expansive networks, and working with families, educators, and partners to leverage collective innovations and learnings.

Health — Learning begins at birth, and healthy development dramatically impacts children’s ability to learn. Children on track in their physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and verbal development are more successful learners from their earliest years and are more likely to become proficient readers.

Nonprofit Sector — Suncoast Campaign programs such as Suncoast Remake Learning Days demonstrate the everyday learning opportunities throughout our region made possible by nonprofit organizations, businesses, service organizations, schools, and cultural institutions. Participation in Suncoast Remake Learning Days also helps these organizations to connect, fostering partnerships on expanded learning opportunities for children and families.

What is the grade-level reading landscape in Charlotte County?

Each county has unique challenges to address and many opportunities to pursue excellence. Based on 2026 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) scores, 61 percent of Charlotte County students can read on grade level by the end of third grade. Also, 12 percent of children under the age of 18 live in poverty, according to the 2024 U.S. Census Bureau.

What is the grade-level reading landscape in DeSoto County?

Each county has unique challenges to address and many opportunities to pursue excellence. Based on 2026 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) scores, 43 percent of DeSoto County students can read on grade level by the end of third grade. Also, 19 percent of children under the age of 18 live in poverty, according to the 2024 U.S. Census Bureau.

What is the grade-level reading landscape in Manatee County?

Each county has unique challenges to address and many opportunities to pursue excellence. Based on 2026 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) scores, 56 percent of Manatee County students can read on grade level by the end of third grade. Also, 17 percent of children under the age of 18 live in poverty, according to the 2024 U.S. Census Bureau.

What is the grade-level reading landscape in Sarasota County?

Each county has unique challenges to address and many opportunities to pursue excellence. Based on 2026 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) scores, 71 percent of Sarasota County students can read on grade level by the end of third grade. Also, 14 percent of children under the age of 18 live in poverty, according to the 2024 U.S. Census Bureau.

Who is working on the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading?

Lead partners in each community are at the forefront of county-specific initiatives and projects relating to the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading:

Lead Partner in Charlotte County: United Way of Charlotte County
Lead Partner in DeSoto County: United Way Suncoast
Lead Partner in Manatee County: United Way Suncoast
Lead Partner in Sarasota County: Community Foundation of Sarasota County

In addition, there are dozens of nonprofits, schools, community organizations, and individuals doing meaningful work related to the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties.

What is The Patterson Foundation’s role in the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading?

Rather than funding programs, The Patterson Foundation invests in a regional approach supporting the community-wide vision of success in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties.

The Patterson Foundation’s resources support the local coalitions through:

Planning assistance
Sharing national research and best practices with local coalitions
National funding
Expert knowledge sharing by bringing in speakers
Fostering community connectivity as Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties seek ways to learn and share together
Communications resources to amplify the work

Does the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading have a grant cycle?

Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading resources (including intellectual capital, support, and funding) focus on the Suncoast Campaign partnership, as opposed to any project, study, or program. For this reason, the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading does not have grant cycles or accept proposals. We are committed to sharing and accelerating evidence-based national strategies to bring sustainable change to our region.

How can I make a donation to the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading initiative?

Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading resources, including intellectual capital, support, and funding, focus on the Suncoast Campaign partnership rather than any project/study or program. For this reason, the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading does not solicit or accept donations. United Way Suncoast, United Way of Charlotte County, and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County stand ready to work with donors interested in supporting Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, or Sarasota efforts.

We encourage you to visit The Giving Partner to find an organization doing high-quality work in early learning or literacy. There are dozens of organizations in every county already doing meaningful work that will contribute positively to the solution areas identified by the nationwide campaign. As the campaign progresses, it will continue to harness the passion and enthusiasm of individuals and organizations making a difference through evidence-based work.

How can I volunteer with the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading initiative?

To stay informed about volunteer opportunities, we encourage you to sign up for the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading newsletter or visit the website's volunteer section. You can also follow the Suncoast Campaign on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates as the campaign evolves.

Where can I learn more about the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading?

Please visit gradelevelreadingsuncoast.net for resources and to learn more.

Who can I contact about the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading initiative?

For more information, contact Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Director Beth Duda: bduda@thepattersonfoundation.org.

Additional FAQ's

Click on frequently asked questions below to learn more about the nationwide Campaign for Grade-Level Reading initiative...

Why does The Patterson Foundation support the nationwide campaign?

Launched in 2010, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is a collaborative effort by foundations, nonprofit partners, business leaders, government agencies, states, and communities across the nation to ensure that more children from asset-limited families succeed in school and graduate prepared for college, a career, and active citizenship. The Campaign focuses on an important predictor of school success and high school graduation — grade-level reading by the end of third grade.

Addressing one of the most critical issues of our time, The Patterson Foundation supports strengthening the efforts of people, organizations, and communities as they come together to increase early literacy and improve the future for all children.

Why is early-childhood literacy very important?

The statistics are troubling: 67 percent of children nationwide and more than 80 percent of those from asset-limited families are not proficient readers by the end of third grade.

Research shows that when children — especially those from asset-limited families — fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade, they are more likely to drop out of high school and face an array of long-term negative consequences.

This problem will undermine efforts to end intergenerational poverty, close the achievement gap, and reduce high school dropout rates.

How are communities across the country working on this issue?

The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading was launched to reverse this potentially catastrophic trend by supporting common-sense solutions at the federal, state, and local levels. Communities employ strategies that address the following solutions:

School Readiness/Early Learning
Attendance
Summer Learning
Family Engagement
Health Determinants

How does the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading benefit communities?

Communities that support the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading understand that an educated community means a stronger future for everyone. It means communities where more people are prepared for higher education and are ready to enter military and civilian service. It means stronger communities prepared to compete in the global economy.

The Campaign brings better ways to deliver support and resources to children in need by mobilizing a broad base of stakeholders to improve school readiness, attendance, and summer learning opportunities for children from asset-limited families.

(total time: 12 minutes 31 seconds)

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