By Matt Weyer
When he’s not dunking over opponents and bringing home world championships, future Hall-of-Famer LeBron James is actively involved with youth in his hometown community of Akron, Ohio.
In a recent interview with “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah, James discussed the importance of helping at-risk youth early on and the LeBron James Family Foundation. “Statistics show that if kids get behind in the third grade there is a [lesser] chance they graduate from high school. ... We have helped 5,000 families over six years.”
You can find the clip here (scroll to 2:30 for the segment). James continues to cement his position in the public eye as an advocate for education for inner-city youth and for other professional athletes to do the same. It is clear that James is highly attuned to the statistics surrounding the importance of third grade proficiency.
The facts are that students who don't read proficiently by the end of third grade are four times less likely to graduate on time. Add poverty into the mix and this number jumps to six times less likely to graduate. Percentages of fourth grade students reading proficiently are especially troubling in large urban school districts; Detroit (6 percent), Baltimore (11 percent), Cleveland (11 percent), Philadelphia (14 percent), and Dallas (17 percent) are just a few.
With inspirational and devoted professional athletes such as LeBron James willing to lead both financially and by raising awareness of the issue, there is hope these statistics will improve over time.
Check out the recent NCSL Legisbrief on Tutoring Young Students in Reading and Math and the Early Learning and Support Portal for more information on improving the education of our country’s youngest students.
Matt Weyer is a policy specialist in NCSL’s Education Program.
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