Growing Readers

Growing Readers focuses on kindergarten readiness through high-quality childcare centers in the City of Reading. Our two-pronged approach involves education and training for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) and coaching and modeling support in centers.

Professional Development

Additional training and education efforts for ECEs provide them with classroom instruction in preparation to obtain their Childhood Development Associate (CDA), a nationally recognized credential. Since its inception in 2017, Growing Readers has supported 44 ECEs becoming CDA credentialed; another 23 ECEs are in the process of acquiring their CDA. Provided in partnership with Reading Area Community College (RACC) and long-time supporters Brad and Barbara Hall, plans are in place to expand efforts to work even more closely with childcare centers to increase the capacity of high-quality childcare centers and to continue supporting centers to build quality.

Coaching and Modeling

In an effort to help local childcare centers provide high quality care and pursue Keystone Stars accreditation, the Growing Readers program provides 17 weeks of individual teacher support, providing weekly literacy planning, materials, coaching and modeling in participating centers. This includes demonstrating how practices should be implemented, weekly teacher observation, weekly coaching sessions, and ongoing coaching upon program completion.