Eliminating the Achievement Gap in Reading

Mission


Our sole objective at Urban Education Exchange is to eliminate the achievement gap in reading. We support our network of urban educators with a precise, proven methodology for teaching reading comprehension – ensuring that urban students have the necessary literacy skills to compete and succeed in life.


The Need


The widely acknowledged achievement gap that separates low-income urban students from their more affluent peers is simply not acceptable. UEE is passionate about teaching students to read, as America’s public education system is failing low-income urban students.

Reading is the bedrock skill for future academic and professional success. UEE focuses on grades K - 6, because differences in early opportunities become magnified over time, and less-skilled children find their experiences in school unrewarding, avoid reading, and their skills consequently fall precipitously behind.

Reform requires bold and innovative solutions like UEE.



Achievement Gap

• By age 3, students of low socio-economic status have heard approximately 30 million fewer words than children of high socio-economic status. [Full Article]

• 50% of low-income 4th graders read below basic proficiency levels.

The Instructional Challenge

The annual teacher turnover rate in urban school districts is nearly 20%

22% of teachers in urban schools lack full credentials.