Empowered Communities, Kindergarten-Ready Kids

How can communities boost school readiness without relying solely on school budgets? This session introduces Reading Engagement for Early Learners, a community-powered model launched by CESA 3 to strengthen early literacy from birth. Attendees will explore how trusted local partners came together to launch 1000 Books Before Kindergarten and Empower EdCamp with PBS Wisconsin Education. Participants will be guided through the REEL Toolkit, developed by CESA 3 with support from a WISELearn grant from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and now available statewide. The toolkit includes planning templates, data inquiry tools, community engagement strategies, professional development models, and sample funding requests. Whether just starting or expanding early literacy efforts, attendees will leave with ready-to-use tools and a roadmap to build sustainable, community-driven literacy ecosystems.