A child's ability to read “on grade level” by third grade is often a key indicator of future academic success. A long-term study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation found students who were not proficient in reading by the end of third grade were four times more likely to drop out of high school than proficient readers. Low literacy is not a direct determinant of a person’s chance of being incarcerated. But corrections experts have long recognized a connection between poor literacy, dropout rates and crime. Students who drop out of high school are three and a half times more likely to be arrested than graduates, as cited by Stanford University. More than socio-economic status or race, fourth-grade teacher Angela Mosca said what she's noticed really impacting students struggling with reading — or school in general — is the value families put on education. Home life, the school experience and several other factors play into a student's ability to learn and thrive. Parents and caregivers can improve reading literacy with young readers. To learn more tips, click the link in our bio.