To reach UWSC's bold goal, an additional 33 children should improve or maintain their reading proficiency level annually thru 2025.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the number of children assessed for literacy declined from FY18-19 to FY19-20, from 549 to 434 (282 early childhood and 152 school-age). However, the percentage of children who maintained or improved their reading proficiency level stayed comparatively stable, from 97% of those assessed in FY18-19 to 92% of those assessed in FY19-20. This is in spite of reduced programming hours in some cases. Thankfully in FY20-21, the numbers rebounded some, with 617 children having been assessed and showing improved or maintained reading levels. This is a metric to be particularly proud of in a year in which we know many children struggled academically. (See, for example, the 3rd grade reading proficiency scores for Story County and statewide.)

The data reported here is an aggregate of the data reported by the following UWSC-funded programs: Raising Readers (RR) Story Pals, RR Harrison Barnes Reading Academy Summer, RR Harrison Barnes Reading Academy After-school, ACPC Infants, ACPC Preschool & Childcare, ChildServe, LSI Parents-as-Teachers, StoryTime (started reporting in FY19-20), and UCC Daycare and Preschool. *This number does not include YSS Out-of-School Programs and Summer Enrichment (no data reported for 2018-19) and RR Reading Buddies (ditto).