Everyday Places & Spaces Initiative

Everyday Places & Spaces, an initiative of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, has convened a coalition of organizations, institutions and program leaders committed to a less school-centric, “whole community” approach to children’s learning. In partnership with educational professionals, the coalition leaders are working to develop an ecosystem of out-of-school learning environments where families can connect to high-quality programs offering high-dosage tutoring, summer learning supports and other structured and unstructured opportunities that help children learn to read at grade level. The ecosystem is rooted in the home with a focus on equipping and supporting parents to create learning-rich environments through home libraries, home visiting, engaging and educational media such as PBS KIDS and Noggin, and digital connectivity. And it extends across the community into places that have learning and development as part of their mission — libraries, museums, playgrounds, etc. — as well as places that aren’t typically associated with learning such as laundromats, barbershops, grocery stores or housing complexes.

The coalition’s leaders and entrepreneurs are dedicated to ensuring these learning-rich environments are accessible to children from economically challenged, fragile and otherwise marginalized families. By collaborating with educators, they expand access to essential resources, prioritizing equity in learning. CGLR serves as the initiative’s backbone, using data, research and practitioner insights to refine strategies and drive impact.

The Everyday Places & Spaces coalition offers a series of Briefs and Resources for those interested in learning about, creating and/or connecting with informal literacy-rich learning environments and practitioners for children and families particularly in out-of-school environments. The coalition’s directory focuses on four key areas in early childhood development: pre-K readiness, reading proficiency, learning-rich environments and a whole-child approach to education and learning.

CGLR utilizes its LEO platform and GLR Learning Tuesdays webinars to shine a light on the efforts of coalition members and leaders in communities across the country who are working to foster this ecosystem. We invite you to learn more about these places and approaches and opportunities for connecting with and supporting them.