forWORDS
a literacy initiative
forWORDS is a community-wide literacy initiative led by Achieve Brown County to help more children build the early foundation they need to read by third grade and thrive for a lifetime.
This is not a program.
It is a shared commitment.
moving literacy forWORD
Initiative in Action
forWORDS turns big goals into shared action.
Across Brown County, over 100 partners are working together to strengthen early literacy through aligned efforts, shared goals, and support for children and families in the moments and places that matter most.
Inspire to Act
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Dr. Suess
forWORDS Early Literacy data
Early Literacy Dashboard
A shared view of early literacy in Brown County didn’t exist. Now it does.
Built for the forWORDS initiative, this dashboard aligns our community on key benchmarks that will help our community know if children are on track with learning to read by third grade.
Explore the data and be part of the change.
The Data
According to the 2025 forward exam data, only 54.2% of Brown County third graders were considered to be “meeting” their reading benchmark.
1 in 3
employers report their average
employee lacks the literacy
skills needed to perform their
job effectively.
Sources: Annie E. Casey Foundation: Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters The Economic & Social Cost of Illiteracy: A Global Snapshot
Research also shows that reading ability influences outcomes throughout life.
Individuals with lower literacy levels are less likely to gain employment, particularly in skilled roles.
4x as likely
Students who do not read
proficiently by third grade
are four times more likely to
leave high school without
a diploma than proficient
readers.
Reading isn’t just a skill – it’s the
spark that fuels confidence, curiosity, and possibility for a lifetime.
Meet the Action Teams
making change happen
Kindergarten Readiness
to build a shared, community-wide understanding of Kindergarten Readiness.
Built Literacy Environments
to increase equitable access to early literacy by integrating literacy-rich experiences into everyday community spaces.
Early Childhood Developmental Screeners
to align partner communications and practices – empowering parents to use screeners to guide their child’s development.
Early Literacy Asset Map
to identify the strengths, gaps and barriers, and of our community’s literacy resources and work with parents to improve systems that raise awareness.
Early Literacy Convening Planning Team
to design & support 2 yearly events that rally the community to improve literacy – understanding data, setting goals, and aligning actions.
Evidence Based Literacy
to expand access to early literacy data, Reach Out and Read in healthcare, & the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.