...Title
State of Third Grade Reading Proficiency - Citywide
Description
This report provides the Community Services and Education Subcommittee with an update on the current state of third-grade reading proficiency in Phoenix and highlights resources available through the Read On Phoenix Initiative, which is committed to ensuring every child in Phoenix has the skills and resources needed to read at or above grade level by the end of third grade.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
Current Literacy Status
According to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, only 26 percent of Arizona fourth grade students performed at or above the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Proficient level in 2024. Local data from the Arizona Department of Education in 2025 shows that just 27 percent of Phoenix third graders are reading at grade level, compared to the statewide average of 36 percent proficiency on the Arizona 3rd Grade English Language Arts assessment.
Of the 25 school districts serving elementary students in Phoenix, only four districts have 50 percent or more third graders reading proficiently. Two districts showed improvement from 2024 to 2025; however, overall, Phoenix schools experienced a six-point decline in average proficiency from 33 percent in 2022, leaving more than 15,000 Phoenix third graders not reading at grade level. The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented disruption to education, underscoring the urgent need for additional support for students and families.
Arizona continues to experience a high rate of chronic absenteeism, with nearly one in four students missing 10 percent or more of instructional days. According to data released by the Arizona Department of Education in late December, the statewide chronic absence rate showed minimal improvement, declining from 24.35% in 2024 to 23.75% in 2025. In Phoenix, the chronic absenteeism rate among students decreased to 23% in 2025, compared to 24% in 2024. Research indicates that students who are chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade are two to three times more likely to read below grade level by third grade, which is a critical benchmark for future academic success.
Strategic Response
Recognizing that literacy impacts every aspect of a child’s life, Read On Arizona collaborated with community partners to launch the Arizona Literacy Plan 2030, an ambitious initiative aiming for 95 percent of Arizona’s third graders to read proficiently by 2030. The plan focuses on four pillars:
- Building educator capacity in the science of reading
- Scaling evidence-based instructional practices
- Engaging families and communities
- Expanding access to high-quality early learning
Read On Phoenix Initiative
The Youth and Education Office leads Read On Phoenix, a citywide initiative aligned with the Arizona Literacy Plan that targets school readiness and K-3 literacy outcomes in the most underserved areas. Read On Phoenix partners with organizations such as Stand for Children, Southwest Human Development, Candelen, Make Way for Books, Valley of the Sun United Way, Scholastic, and First Things First. These partners provide family engagement programs, early literacy resources for children from birth to age five, professional development for educators, and access to high-quality books and learning materials, creating a comprehensive and collaborative approach to improving literacy outcomes.
Based on 2025 third-grade reading data, Read On Phoenix identified the following strategies for the upcoming planning session to set strategic priorities for 2026-2030:
- Align literacy initiatives across City departments, school districts, and community organizations
- Expand early literacy programming for families with children birth to age five
- Increase tutoring, after-school literacy programs, and summer learning opportunities
- Create literacy-rich environments through community literacy hubs
- Target high-need communities with intensive literacy supports and resources
City Programs and Services
Read On Phoenix targets Kindergarten Readiness, Reading Proficiency by Third Grade, Family Engagement, and Chronic Absenteeism as the core areas to improve literacy. Through evidence-based strategies, comprehensive staff training, and strong partnerships with families and the community, these City programs are designed to provide every child with the essential foundation for lifelong learning and academic success. This summary below highlights core programs driving literacy improvement but does not include all currently in place.
Kindergarten Readiness and Family Engagement
Phoenix Families First Resource Centers (FRCs), managed by the Youth and Education Office, provide safe community hubs to strengthen families by offering information and referral services, free parent-child activities, and parenting education.
Phoenix Great Start, managed by the Youth and Education Office, offers free admission to various educational and cultural institutions for children in Title I schools to ensure children are ready for kindergarten and reading at grade level by third grade.
The Head Start Birth to Five Program, managed by the Human Services Department, provides free, comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and family support services to increase outcomes in social-emotional development, language, cognitive skills, early reading, science, math, and physical growth.
Phoenix Public Library’s Early Learning Outreach Team offers programs that serve birth to five families such as Kindergarten Bootcamp, Tools for School, Music and Move, and Discovery Time. These programs explore physical, cognitive, social-emotional, academic, and/or classroom readiness skills essential for a successful start to school.
Reading Proficiency by Third Grade
The Youth and Education Office Experience Corps Tutoring Program helps improve third grade reading proficiency by providing structured, one-on-one tutoring sessions with adult volunteers aged 50 and older.
The Youth and Education Office Literacy Hubs in Murphy and Cartwright districts offer tutoring, family workshops, and literacy events.
Phoenix Public Library Summer Reading Program promotes early literacy and prevents summer learning loss through reading challenges and rewards to foster a lifelong love of reading.
Phoenix Housing offers the Book Rich Environment Program that distributes free books to families in subsidized housing through partnerships with the National Book Foundation, Phoenix Public Library, and the Youth and Education Office.
Phoenix Public Library offers StoryWalk® at Edison, Harmon, and Cesar Chavez parks, placing pages of a children’s book along walking paths to promote early literacy, physical activity, and family engagement.
Phoenix PAC (Phoenix Afterschool Center) offers homework help, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) activities, literacy support, and enrichment for children ages 6-13 to promote academic growth and social development.
Chronic Absenteeism
Chronic absenteeism awareness is being integrated into City programs through targeted outreach and family engagement strategies. Phoenix Families First Resource Centers, Phoenix Public Library Early Learning programs, and Head Start includes attendance education as part of their early learning curriculum and connects families to needed resources. By embedding attendance awareness into these services, the City aims to reduce absenteeism and ensure children receive consistent instruction needed for reading success.
Community Engagement and Awareness
The Public Information Office is launching a collaborative, bilingual campaign that unites multiple departments and platforms to connect Phoenix families with essential programs and resources. The Helping PHX Families Campaign aims to raise awareness of these services, with special emphasis on initiatives that support third-grade reading proficiency.Through strategic storytelling, strong community partnerships, and targeted outreach, this campaign will highlight program successes and empower families to access the tools they need to thrive.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Youth and Education Office.