Preface is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that jump-starts
childhood literacy by pairing high school mentors with elementary school students to set them up for a
lifetime of learning.
pre · face (noun): an introduction, typically stating a book's subject, scope, or aims
Just as a "Preface" serves as the introduction to a book, our program lays the foundation for the rest of the chapters in a student's life by supporting early readers (as well as English Language Learners) through monolingual and multilingual empowerment.
Our award-winning model is founded on the simple idea that relationships matter.
After just 10 weeks with Preface, young students are going from
functionally illiterate to reading at or above grade level.
That's why our vision is to ensure that every teacher, student, and parent has access to Preface's proven literacy solutions - all at no cost to students and schools.
Our Model
What we do is simple:
We recruit motivated high school student tutors looking to give back to their communities –
Both in-person and virtually.
We train these “Ambassadors” in educational best practices through a multi-week program –
Designed by expert teachers.
We pair our “Ambassadors” with young children who are struggling to read –
Providing individualized educational support.
We create win-win solutions so everyone thrives –
Students, families, and communities.
Our Impact
Children reading proficiently by 3rd grade are 4x less likely to drop out of school...
...and are 60x less likely than their peers to spend time in prison...
...saving taxpayers ~$292,000 each in public assistance and correctional funding!
Note: Letter-based literacy scores quantified and standardized utilizing equalized interval scale methodology. Improvement quantified based on variation from starting level and evaluated using standard benchmarking.
Data obtained and utilized in accordance with applicable data sharing guidelines of partner institutions.
Source: Preface, Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation, Edmentum, Northeastern University, National Center for Education Statistics.
Our Presence
We're transforming the national conversation around early childhood literacy:
Current Preface States:
Alabama
Colorado
Georgia
Wisconsin
New York
Tennessee
Florida
New Jersey
Texas
South Carolina
North Carolina
Virginia
Maryland
Minnesota
Illinois
All while we're forging connections and shaping ideas across the globe.
South Korea
New Zealand
Philippines
USA
Italy
United Kingdom
Singapore
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Your Support
With your help, we'll continue fighting for equal opportunity for every child:
Your Impacts
Just $10 a month can fund one entire year of transformative Preface tutoring for a young child!
A one-time gift of $27 can provide basic literacy materials for one child for one semester!
Together, we can ensure that every child has the foundation to succeed:
