Reading Now Leads to Success Later in Life

According to the National Commission on Reading, “the single most significant factor influencing a child’s early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school.” Reading NOW has officially opened its doors to help the Erie area with just that goal in mind – creating lifelong literate learners. On Thursday, June 26th, the public will have a special opportunity to visit Reading Now during their Grand Opening, held from 6 to 9 pm at 3910 Caughey Road.

“By creating a community that reads proficiently, we all benefit, from a more highly skilled workforce, higher salaries, and better opportunities,” states Dr. Shelly Bentley, Owner and Director of Reading NOW.

The US Commerce Department’s 2002 report on Educational Attainment and Earnings estimates that an individual with no high school diploma will earn about $756,000 over their lifetime, compared to high school and college graduates that earn $1,036,000 and $1,816,000 respectively. That difference for college graduates and high school dropouts totals over $26,000 per year, and can mark the difference between poverty and middle-class.

In Erie County, there are over 27,000 individuals age 25 or older that have no high school diploma. According to the Census Bureau, if just half of those high school dropouts earned a high school diploma, there would be over $95 million more in salaries earned each year in Erie County. ReadingNOW's focus is to assist students in Kindergarten through 10th grade to become lifelong proficient readers, by offering diagnostic assessments, tutoring, and other educational programs. Their goal is also to collaborate with local schools and the community.