Partner Programs

In addition to managed programming, Ready.Set.READ! also funds a summer learning grant opportunity and two community programs focused on early learning:

Two boys are sitting at a table in a classroom. One of the boys is looking down, working on a puzzle. The other is smiling at the camera Summer Learning Grants are open to schools and organizations serving Berks County students. This competitive grant, which is administered by United Way of Berks County, provides up to $5,000 in support of summer learning programming and is offered as part of the Ready.Set.READ! initiative.

A current list of grant recipients and their funded programs is available on United Way’s website.

Abriendo Puertas (Opening Doors) is a nationally recognized 10-session group education program for parents of children 0-5 years old, to help them understand the importance of their role as their child’s first teacher and increase their child’s school readiness. Developed in California, specifically for Latino parents, it also helps them learn to be their child’s advocate once they start their formal education.

Centro Hispano has partnered with Ready.Set.READ! and taken the lead in bringing the program to Berks County. A certified trainer works to train both parents, as well as staff from other community agencies. Participants achieve sizable gains in their knowledge and skills in language and literacy development for their children as a result.

An abstract illustration of a bridge above the words neighborhood bridges Ready.Set.READ! partners with Yocum Institue for Arts Education to present Neighborhood Bridges programming in four 3rd grade classrooms in several Reading School District elementary schools. Neighborhood Bridges is a literacy program designed to develop students’ abilities to write, speak, and think clearly; improve their achievement in reading and writing; stimulate creative problem solving; and improve their ability to communicate with peers, family, and teachers.