Reading at Grade Level

Literacy opens doors. With in-school tutoring and access to books at home, kids across Larimer County are gaining the skills and confidence they need to read at grade level.

By THE NUMBERS

Reading changes everything. Last year, donor support provided in-school tutoring and books at home, helping kids catch up with their peers, discover the joy of reading, and unlock new opportunities.

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students received one-on-one tutoring through Colorado Reading Corps across three districts.
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of these students exceeded target growth rates, catching up to grade-level peers.
0 %
of Larimer County children under age five receive free monthly books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
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Reading At Grade Level Initiatives

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

This beloved early literacy program delivers free, high-quality books in English and
Spanish to children every month from birth to age five—no cost, no catch. It fosters a love
of reading and ensures every child has books at home, regardless of their family’s income.

Colorado Reading Corps places trained AmeriCorps members in schools to provide one-on-one, in-school literacy tutoring. This proven model accelerates reading progress for early elementary students who need extra support.

Community Hubs make reading support easier to access by bringing tutoring, early learning, and trusted partners together in one welcoming space. Families face fewer barriers, and more children gain the skills they need to read on grade level.

In partnership with Unite for Literacy and La Familia, this initiative provides free access to a digital library with books in more than 60 languages along with physical books in Spanish to participating families. It supports early literacy by helping children see themselves in the stories they read and ensures that enrolled families build a home library of at least 100 books.

Early Childhood Navigators support parents with young children by connecting them to care, resources, and early education. They also help families build daily reading routines, making it easier for kids to develop strong early literacy skills.

UWLC provides flexible funding to local school districts to expand opportunities for
learning and ensure every student can succeed. This support includes tutoring, high
school readiness programs, classroom grants, and assistance with basic needs like
housing, transportation, and food, so students and their families can stay focused
on learning.

UWLC advocates for policy changes that expand opportunities for children and families.
We focus on the issues that matter most to Larimer County — like affordable child care,
housing, cost of living, and access to safe, inclusive learning environments — because
lasting change requires strong community systems.

REAL STORIES

One student began the school year struggling with letter sounds and a speech delay. After receiving tutoring funded by United Way of Larimer County, she not only mastered her letter sounds but exceeded her benchmarks, advancing to the next level before Winter Break. “She put in the focus and hard work to learn all her letter sounds with proficiency, allowing her to exit on her own merit before Winter Break.”
Colorado Reading Corps TutorBerthoud Elementary
A single mother of two turned to an Early Childhood Navigator after struggling to find affordable childcare. She secured tuition assistance, participated in bilingual story time sessions, and accessed mental health resources. By the end of the program, she felt more confident as a parent and established a daily reading routine with her children. She shared, “I finally feel like I have a community that supports me and my kids.”
When Kenny started kindergarten, he was the lowest-scoring student in his class for reading. He knew just one letter sound. Then he met Anna, his Colorado Reading Corps tutor, who believed in him and worked with him in school every day. Two months later, Kenny could identify 37 letter sounds. He went from the lowest-scoring kindergartener to the highest.

Next’s Word of Thanks:

Larimer Child Care Fund

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