LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Nevada has long lagged behind most of the country in education, and while it has made strides recently, there’s still a long way to go.
A key step in making up that ground is getting kids to read at their grade level.
“Up until third grade, you’re learning to read. After third grade, you’re reading to learn,” Lisa Habighorst with Spread the Word Nevada explained to FOX5 Thursday morning. “And so if a child can’t read by third grade, they’re going to be behind and lost for the rest of the time.”
Spread the Word Nevada is joining forces with Teach for America to get third-grade students to read at a third-grade level.
“Statistically, students who aren’t reading by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school and just have struggles all their life,” Habighorst said.
Her organization found that 44% of Clark County School District third graders read at a third-grade level, which is up from previous years. But Habighorst has loftier goals to get that number up to 64% by 2030. Much of that has to do with getting your kids on track early, at home, and Habighorst is helping to launch a website dedicated to that.
“It will tell you everything you can do, milestones you should be doing with your children,” she described. “Look for the activities page.”
You’ll find that by looking up “Read With Me NV” in the coming days. It will have tips for everyone to help with childhood literacy.
“Maybe your children are grown and you have some time on your hands,” Habighorst said. “Come down and volunteer. Get the books ready to go out to the kids. Read with a kid every week.”
A growing number of CCSD schools are improving their literacy rates.
Copyright 2025 KVVU. All rights reserved.
