Greater Boston

Read to a Child’s Read Aloud Mentoring Program in Greater Boston launched in 2002 with one school in Cambridge. The program is now offered at 17 public elementary schools throughout Greater Boston. Each week our reading pairs meet either virtually or in-person for read aloud sessions. Our volunteers come from our many corporate partners who continuously inspire and consistently read aloud to the students of the Greater Boston Region.

The Read Aloud Mentoring Program combines the power of mentoring and reading aloud to help reduce the resource gap at our partner schools. Due to systemic challenges, lack of resources, and the negative impact of COVID-19, many students did not meet expectations on the 2020-21 MCAS. On average across all of our 17 partner schools, 59% of 3rd graders, 80% of current and former 3rd grade English Language Learners, and 90% of economically disadvantaged 3rd graders did not meet expectations in English Language Arts. In speaking about the benefits that Read to a Child has provided to one of her students, one teacher explained “She has loved being in the Read Aloud Mentoring Program. She looks forward to her session and gets so excited when it is her time to log in and read with them. I can tell she is really invested. Academically, this program is allowing her reading comprehension skills to thrive because it allows her the opportunity to love what she is reading!”

By partnering with our local schools, socially-minded organizations, and caring community leaders, Read to a Child of Greater Boston is working toward a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive in school and beyond through the cultivation of a lifelong reading practice.