PETITION: Combat Book Deserts and Illiteracy
Nearly half of children in the United States live in “book deserts” — communities without reliable access to public libraries, bookstores, or adequate reading materials.
Access to books is one of the strongest predictors of a child’s academic success, with data showing children who are not reading proficiently by third grade are far more likely to struggle academically and drop out of high school, limiting long-term economic mobility and workforce readiness.
The Open Books, Open Doors Act tackles literacy gaps by establishing a federal grant program within the Department of Education to support state and local efforts in communities with the greatest need.