Children raised in high-need schools and communities are faced daily with overwhelming challenges that can be extremely stressful and directly impact how they perform and behave in school. One way to begin defining academic success for students in high-need schools and communities is by evaluating literacy rate. Studies have shown that “fourth graders who are reading proficient are far more likely to graduate from high school and become economically successful,” (Casey Foundation 2014). Academic success starts in the home; unfortunately for students in high-needs communities, home life can be unstable and lack exposure. According to the Huffington Post, “in low-income neighborhoods there is one book per every 300 children. In middle-income
