By the end of third grade, reading becomes the key that unlocks everything else a child is expected to learn. This is the moment when students move from learning to read to reading to learn, and that shift can shape their confidence, their classroom experience, and their future opportunities.
MBK Houston’s Milestone 2 is rooted in a shared belief: literacy is a cornerstone of lifelong success and a powerful sign of a healthy, supported community. When children read on grade level by third grade, they are better positioned to thrive academically, stay engaged in school, and pursue pathways that lead to college, careers, and purpose.
Our approach focuses on three priorities that meet families where they are. We support early literacy through maternal and child health touchpoints, making sure reading milestones and resources show up in trusted places like clinics, WIC sites, and immunization visits. We expand access to books and simple, family-friendly tools that help caregivers build strong reading routines at home. And we grow community-based reading experiences that make literacy joyful and consistent through mentorship, family reading events, and programs that build confidence and fluency.
To create lasting change for Milestone 2: Reading at Grade Level by Third Grade, we focus on:
Strengthening family, school, and community partnerships that support shared reading and in-home literacy routines
Expanding access to books and literacy-rich environments, especially in underserved neighborhoods
Scaling evidence-based reading instruction and interventions so more students benefit from what works
Investing in educator training and support to strengthen high-quality, consistent literacy instruction in early grades
Leveraging libraries and community organizations to provide programs, resources, and trusted spaces that reinforce literacy development
That is why this work belongs to all of us. Milestone 2 is advanced in partnership with the Houston Public Library and the Houston Health Department, bringing together schools, clinics, community organizations, and families to build a citywide culture of reading. We strengthen the connection between library, school, and home so children experience consistent encouragement and access to resources wherever they learn and grow.
By 2030, we are working toward clear outcomes that reflect what Houston families deserve: stronger literacy supports across health and community systems, thousands of literacy interventions and book distributions, more families reading together consistently at home, and more K–3 students participating in programs that increase reading confidence and skill. As this work grows, we will also strengthen partner collaboration so more organizations across the city actively promote early literacy alongside the Houston Public Library.
Milestone 2 is about more than test scores. It is about creating a Houston where every child is surrounded by people who believe in them, every family has what they need to support learning, and every neighborhood has access to the tools and relationships that help children become strong readers and lifelong learners.
Milestone 2 is led by Dr. Cydnee Patterson of the Houston Health Department and Crystal Swimmer of the Houston Public Library. Together with partners across Houston, this milestone strengthens the connection between school, home, and community to help more children read at grade level by the end of third grade and build a lifelong foundation for learning.
Building strong readers through family partnership, evidence-based instruction, and community-wide literacy support.
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Frequently Asked
Questions
It means students can accurately read and understand texts that match third-grade expectations, including fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. By this stage, children are expected to use reading to learn new content in every subject.
Third grade is a major turning point. Students shift from learning to read to reading to learn. Strong reading skills at this point support confidence, academic success, and long-term outcomes like graduation and career readiness.
We provide family-friendly literacy tools, access to books, and supportive learning experiences that help caregivers build simple reading routines. Our goal is to make reading together easier, more consistent, and more joyful for families.
Libraries and community organizations expand access to books, programs, and learning spaces that reinforce literacy. Partners help connect families to resources through trusted neighborhood locations and events that strengthen the library, school, and home connection.
Join the Milestone 2 Action Team! You can also volunteer as a reading buddy or event helper, host or sponsor a literacy activity, donate books or resources, or partner with MBK Houston to expand programming in priority neighborhoods. If you are an educator, provider, or organization, we welcome collaboration to align efforts and strengthen outcomes.