In Memphis, the literacy crisis is urgent and undeniable. Today, only 29% of third graders read on grade level, and by eighth grade, that number drops to just 18%—less than one in five students. Research is clear: if a child cannot read proficiently by age nine, it is highly unlikely they ever will. Illiteracy has devastating consequences for individuals and communities, with more than 70% of U.S. inmates reading below a fourth-grade level.

Since 2009, Memphis Teacher Residency (MTR) has recruited and trained over 760 new teachers for high-need schools. In 2021, MTR launched the Memphis Literacy Institute (MLI) to deepen its focus on this critical issue and ensure that every child in Memphis can read on grade level by third grade.

MLI’s strategy rests on three pillars:

1. Strengthening Teacher Knowledge
   Teachers must know how to effectively teach reading, but too often they lack the training and support to do so. MLI provides high-quality literacy training through a Reading Specialist Certification program (with 97 teachers trained so far), the annual Memphis Literacy Conference, and ongoing in-person and virtual training sessions for schools across the city.

2. Proving the Model
   To demonstrate what is possible, MLI partners with high-need schools such as Cornerstone Prep and Compass Orange Mound to deliver intensive literacy training and coaching. The results are promising: on the most recent TNReady test, 65% of Cornerstone’s 2nd graders were proficient readers—more than double the city average.

3. Sharing What Works
   MLI is documenting and distributing best practices to inspire and guide other schools, policymakers, and education leaders. By clearly naming the strategies that lead to success, MLI hopes to influence broader decisions that create literacy-rich classrooms across Memphis.

The vision is bold but simple: every child should be able to read on grade level by third grade. With strong training, proven models, and a commitment to sharing what works, Memphis Literacy Institute is leading the way to make that future possible.

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