Advocate for Philly’s young readers.
Reading is a right worth protecting.
⅔ of Philly’s children are not reading at grade level by 4th grade. When kids struggle to read, doors close and futures narrow. But we can change this.
By advocating for stronger policies and better resources, we can make sure every child becomes a strong reader—ready for school, work, and the life they deserve.
The good news? You have power.
Learn more about the issues and educate others. Raise your voice. Because reading is a right worth protecting.
What You Can Do:
Champion the science of reading and high-quality instruction.
Join the fight for fair school funding.
Ensure every Philly school has a librarian.
Unite against banned books.
Support your local library.
"I have never met a student that did not want to learn how to read or a family that did not understand its importance."
DR. NYSHAWANA FRANCIS-THOMPSON
Chief of Curriculum and Instruction, School District of Philadelphia
Champion the science of reading and high-quality reading instruction.
Philly’s teachers are passionate, hardworking, and ready to make magic happen—but they need the right preparation and support to teach reading effectively.
Not all reading instruction is created equal. The science of reading—backed by decades of research—works. Let’s give our educators the training, curriculum, tools, and system-wide support they need to do what they do best: teach.
Because when teachers have what they need, students thrive.
RECENT NEWS
In 2022, PA passed a law (HB 1642) making sure future teachers learn how to teach reading using proven methods.
The School District of Philadelphia rolled out a new science of reading curriculum in 2024–2025.
Another law (SB 801) was passed to bring evidence-based reading instruction to every classroom—but it still needs funding.
TAKE ACTION
Urge your senators to support the Structured Literacy Memo.
Follow PA Literacy Coalition for the latest actions.
“By prioritizing early literacy, we can set Pennsylvania's kids up for success.”
REPRESENTATIVE JASON ORTITAY
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Join the fight for fair school funding.
Imagine showing up to school ready to learn, but there aren’t enough books, no library, and your teacher doesn’t have the right tools. How can you thrive without resources?
In Pennsylvania, school funding has historically been based on local property taxes, leaving lower-income communities struggling while wealthier ones get more. That’s not fair.
We all want what’s best for our kids—it’s time to prove it with funding. Investing in children means investing in a stronger future for everyone.
RECENT NEWS
In 2023, Pennsylvania’s school funding system was declared unconstitutional.
In 2024, state leaders found Pennsylvania schools were underfunded by $4.5 billion—Philly’s share was $1.25 billion. They took the first step by closing 11% of the gap.
In February 2025, Governor Shapiro proposed filling the next 11% of the gap. The deadline for state lawmakers to finalize the next year's budget is June 30, 2025
TAKE ACTION
Email City Council and tell them education funding matters.
Follow Children First and PA Schools Work for the latest actions.
"Every child, no matter what ZIP code they live in, is as equal and important as every other."
SENATOR VINCENT HUGHES
Pennsylvania State Senate
Ensure every Philly school has a librarian.
Right now, Philly schools have just five librarians for over 116,000 students. Seriously, let that sink in.
Research shows that kids with access to certified teacher librarians read more and grow into stronger learners—so why are so many left without one?
Let’s give every child the reading support they deserve.
RECENT NEWS
TAKE ACTION
Sign the petition urging City Council to fund school libraries and certified librarians in every public school.
Follow Philadelphia Alliance to Restore School Librarians (PARSL) for the latest actions.
“Don’t tell me what a library can’t do. I’ll show you what a library can do!”
JEAN DARNELL
Director of Library Science, School District of Philadelphia
Unite against book bans.
Book bans might not have hit Philly yet, but they’re creeping into nearby counties and spreading across the U.S.
And here’s the truth: most banned books feature people of color and LGBTQ+ characters. These stories motivate children and families to read by reflecting their lived experiences and opening doors to new worlds.
When we silence these stories, we don’t just lose incredible books—we lose our freedom. And that’s something we can’t afford.
RECENT NEWS
Report: Last year ended with a surge in book bans (NPR, 2024)
10,046 instances of book bans were recorded in the 2023-2024 school year (PEN America)
TAKE ACTION
Follow Unite Against Book Bans for the latest actions.
“Any book worth banning is a book worth reading.”
ISAAC ASIMOV
Author
Support your local library.
Think about how radical it is to have a library in your neighborhood—where anyone can get books, information, and resources— for free.
We can’t take that for granted. Libraries are essential community hubs and spotlight how much we care about our children’s futures.
Remember how exciting it was to visit your local library as a kid? Let’s make sure we keep them strong for generations to come.
RECENT NEWS
Free Library of Philadelphia nearing uniform 6-day service (WHYY, 2024)
President Trump issued an Executive Order intended to dismantle the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services,
TAKE ACTION
Send a message to your Senators and Representatives urging them to overturn the executive order and protect IMLS funding.
Get a library card. This small act has a big impact because funding depends on the number of cardholders.
Join your local branch’s Friends of the Library group to stay in the loop, support what your branch needs most, and advocate for fully funded library services.
More Causes We Care About
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Every reader’s journey starts with high-quality preschool and well-paid teachers.
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Children learn best in schools filled with joy, creativity, and play—not stress.
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It’s never too late to learn. When adults can read, families grow stronger.
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We need more great teachers—and better ways to support them.
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Black educators matter. And all students benefit from increased teacher diversity.
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Understanding our city’s budget is the first step to building the Philadelphia of our dreams.
