Fresh Starts, Bright Futures
The night before a new school year begins, a child lays out their clothes, checks their backpack one more time, and practices writing their name in their best handwriting. There’s electricity in the air—the anticipation of meeting a new teacher, making new friends, discovering what they’ll be capable of throughout the year.
For many children, this anticipation sparkles with pure excitement. But for young learners who have struggled in school, that same anticipation carries deeper weight. Will this be the year they finally keep up? Will they understand what the teacher is saying? Will they be able to read the same books as their friends?
When children gain confidence in reading, everything changes. Suddenly, that anticipation transforms from anxiety into genuine excitement. They walk into their classroom not wondering if they’ll succeed, but ready to discover just how much they can achieve.
This fall marks not just the start of a new school year, but a fresh chapter for our entire region as we approach the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene. For the children we serve, literacy is the bridge between uncertainty and confidence, between struggle and that beautiful anticipation that every child deserves to feel.
However, across Buncombe County, too many bright, curious children are still waiting for their own fresh start with reading. The 2024 Nation’s Report Card revealed a sobering reality in our community:
- 42% of Asheville City Schools students are reading below grade level
- 50% of Buncombe County Schools students face the same struggle
These aren’t just statistics—they’re children whose potential is waiting to be unlocked.
The University of Chicago research is clear: “For children, a critical transition takes place during elementary school: Until the end of third grade, most students are learning to read. Beginning in fourth grade, however, students begin reading to learn.”
This window is everything. Miss it, and a child faces years of playing catch-up. But catch them in time? Their entire educational journey transforms.
Fresh Starts for Every Learner
This year, we’re expanding our impact:
- Shifting Intention for our Literacy Leaders Internship Program. Our internship is expanding this academic year to become a more intensive leadership program with more frequent opportunities for professional growth and leadership for our young adult leaders.
- Targeted Literacy Support through community partnerships. We’re strengthening our K-12 programming with specialized training to better serve students who are struggling with foundational reading AND math skills.
- English Language Learner Support as a response to community needs highlighted by Hurricane Helene. We’re developing a new curriculum and building partnerships specifically designed to support young English Language Learners during this critical time.
- Adult Education Continuity as 300+ adults start a new year with their tutors. We’re maintaining our commitment to adult learners who are working toward their own fresh starts, providing the educational foundation they need to achieve their goals.
Our students remind us that fresh starts aren’t limited by age—they’re about courage, determination, and having someone believe in your potential. With the right support at the right time, every child can learn to read. Every adult can earn their diploma. Every fresh start can lead to a transformed future.
Your Partnership Makes the Difference
When you support our work, you’re not just funding programs—you’re packing hope into a child’s backpack. You’re ensuring that when they unzip it each morning, they find the tools, support, and belief they need to succeed.
Every donation creates more opportunities for our youth and adult learners in Buncombe County. Every gift says to a struggling reader: “We believe in you. This is your year.”
Will you help us make this the year of fresh starts our community deserves?