In order to turn struggling readers into confident scholars, we have to

increase their engagement with texts by bringing them books they will love.

We see a lot of reading material at Open Books, but often don't get copies of the books our students want and need the most.

 

This month, consider making a donation to our Treasure Trove. Here are the books we're looking for:  

•  A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott 
• Roxaboxen by Alice Mclerran 
•  One Hot Summer Day
  by Nina Crews 
•  Put Me In The Zoo by Robert Lopshire 
•  Seedfolks
  by Paul Fleischman 

Click here to read more about the Treasure Trove and how to donate a title today!

 

Volunteering! 

Whether you're cheering on your favorite college b-ballers or fighting tooth and nail against the vestiges of winter wind, March is all about competition. It's no different for our students. Every day, children across Chicago battle against the invisible forces that can inhibit their achievement. See what Open Books is doing this month to help students become engaged readers and learners and consider joining our own fight to conquer illiteracy in our city.

Anna Piepmeyer

Program Director

 
Here's the plain and alarming truth: unless the U.S. finds a way to increase our graduation rates, we're going to be surpassed by other countries with far higher achievement rates than our own.  Graduation rates indicate a student's level of preparation for adult life in the working world, and ours aren't anything to brag about, hovering around 60% nationally and just over 50% in Chicago.

 

It's no secret that high school dropouts face staggering individual challenges, and are less likely to be able to support themselves, their families, or positively contribute to their communities. They are more likely to be arrested, and less likely to find permanent jobs. If a dropout does find employment, he/she will make $10,000 less per year than his/her graduate peer and $35,000 less annually than students who earned a Bachelor's Degree.

 

Moreover, the United States loses big with each and every dropout. High school dropouts will contribute far less in earned income over their lifetimes than their peers.  On average, high school dropouts contribute about $60,000 less in taxes over a lifetime.  The Alliance for Excellent Education reports that if one year's worth of dropouts graduated instead of leaving school, they would make an additional $11 billion dollars over their lifetimes.

 

At Open Books, we are committed to helping students receive the attention they need and acquire the skill sets necessary to become productive, confident community leaders in high school and beyond, but we can't do it alone. Because of you, each year we can serve more students, develop new programs, and expand our reach. Now is the best time to join our cause as a volunteer, a book donor, or a financial supporter. Help at-risk youth find their voices and achieve their dreams!