According to RIF, "literacy - the ability to read and write - is essential to fully developing a sense of well-being and citizenship." It is estimated that 40% of 4th graders in the United States have failed to meet reading proficiency levels. Additionally, this lack of proficiency is more common among low income and minority groups. Even more alarming is the fact that among different ethnic groups, especially low income African-Americans and Hispanics, the ability to read can be even more scarce. White peers, by 4th grade, are sometimes close to 3 academic years ahead of their multicultural peers. What's more frightening is that "two-thirds of classrooms in the US have fewer than 50 children's books," according to RIF's website. The National Assessment of Educational Progress tested children's reading skills nationwide and found 38% were below the most basic level.
Additionally, according to a study by US Department of Education, there are reportedly higher-than-average test scores for those students with reading material at home.
RIF's goal is to enhance and motivate reading among children who fall into this statistic. Clearly, the organization does so by getting books into the hands of these children. RIF also uses fun activities such as read aloud events, book hand-outs, etc. in their organization.
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