Just 28% of fourth-graders in Arkansas are reading at or above their grade level. This, according to Kathy French, executive director of AR Kids Read, means that, on average, 14 students in each classroom have difficulty keeping up with literacy skills.
Early intervention is essential for improving these statistics, something AR Kids Read and its volunteer tutors recognize all too well.
“Reading by the end of third grade is a turning point,” French says. “By then, they must shift from learning to read to reading to learn. When a child misses this milestone, school becomes harder in every subject, and the gap tends to widen over time. Working with grades one through three means we are working upstream of the issue.”
Diane and Randy Zook, the community leader honorees for the nonprofit’s upcoming Spellebration, both have a wealth of experience in Arkansas’ literacy efforts. Diane is a retired educator who formerly chaired the state board of education, while Randy serves as president and CEO of the state chamber of commerce.
Diane addresses the issue by drawing on her substantial academic training and her work with children who have learning disabilities. Randy takes a broader perspective, focusing on how low literacy rates affect long-term workforce outcomes.
“We need people who are able to function and thrive in our economy and help drive our businesses and their successes,” Randy says. “Learning to read is the first building block. Without it, a person can’t expand their world, understand the world or fully function in society.”
AR Kids Read helps children succeed by pairing them with trained adult volunteers who use science-based reading methods for effective, growth-focused sessions.
“We knew that the majority of kids were not being taught to read the way they can best learn how to read,” Diane explains. “And then when research was finished on the science of reading and the focus was on that, we discovered that only about 30% of children can learn through word exposure, 40% need more than just exposure and 30% need more extensive, individualized teaching.”
The science of reading draws upon a growing body of research that emphasizes five key concepts: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Earlier approaches tended to focus solely on phonics drills or associating vocabulary with images, but evidence now shows integrating all five elements is the most effective path to literacy.
“The science of reading works because it’s grounded in how children actually learn to read — through explicit, systematic instruction that builds skills step by step,” French says. “We’ve seen that when students receive this kind of structured support, they make stronger, more lasting progress.”
According to Diane, earlier methods frequently failed to identify indicators of dyslexia and other learning disabilities in students, whereas this approach enables more effective early detection.
Randy points to Mississippi’s improved literacy rates as a reason for Arkansas to fully embrace the scientific reading method. Mississippi rose from near the bottom in 2013 to one of the top states for third grade literacy.
“We have started implementation here and there, but it just really needs a full-court press,” Randy says. “In the business community, we know what to do. We just need to do it completely and thoroughly in every school in the state.”
According to French, the organization aims to “nurture a love of reading through relationships.” Last fall, it launched “Reading and Me,” a user-friendly tool that lets students share their feelings about reading using emojis. Volunteers provide statements and the child points to the emoji that best describes how they feel.
Diane says having a trusted adult who cares makes all the difference in a child’s ability to learn.
“Sometimes you go in and you listen, then you listen and then you listen some more,” Diane says. “Eventually, the child will feel heard and begin to relax. They come to think of you as a person who cares about them and they lose their inhibitions.”
AR Kids Read now provides literacy workshops designed for families, ensuring students have support from adults at home, too. Last fall, it teamed up with UA Little Rock’s education department to introduce a one-hour community literacy workshop.
“These sessions offer practical strategies families can use at home with their young readers, connections to local literacy resources and guidance on understanding school assessments so caregivers feel confident advocating for their children,” French says.
As the lead agency for the campaign for grade-level reading, the organization is also focused on literacy network building and making sure partner organizations across the state have access to shared resources, webinars and ongoing learning around literacy best practices.
French says the goal isn’t just to grow AR Kids Read’s programs, but to expand the impact of every literacy provider in the state.
“What keeps us motivated is knowing this problem is solvable,” French says. “With the right support, access to books and consistent encouragement, kids can build strong reading skills, and when they do, it opens doors not just in school, but in life. That’s the work we’re committed to every day.”
spellebration
Benefiting ar kids read
April 9, 6 p.m. | The Sanctuary at Argenta
Info:arkidsread.org/spellebration
PHOTOGRAPHY
JASON MASTERS
HAIR & MAKEUP
LORI WENGER
ON DIANE:
CLOTHING
B. BARNETT