Empowering Students Through Reading
Together, we're making literacy a priority in Kansas City.
Our Programs
Lead to Read KC mobilizes the community to solve the literacy crisis by connecting students with reading mentors, resources, and unwavering support.
Reading Mentoring
Caring adults volunteer during their lunch hour to read one-on-one in the classroom with a student.
Tutoring
Individualized online tutoring through Hoot Reading helps students master foundational reading skills.
Author Partnerships
We bring authors to schools for interactive read-alouds building social-emotional skills, identity, and love of reading.
Reading Is Everywhere
We distribute 4,500+ books monthly through community partner locations.
The Challenge
Only 23% of third graders in Kansas City public and charter schools are reading on grade level. Children who are not reading by third grade are 4X more likely to drop out of high school.
By the Numbers
Statistics from the 2025-2026 school year provide just one example of the meaningful, measurable difference Lead to Read KC is making in the community. Learn more about our Impact.
Our Impact
Lead to Read KC is helping build a brighter future for Kansas City children by providing mentorship and addressing the challenge of low literacy rates.
The Blog
The Data Is In: Reading Mentors Help Students Close the Gap Twice as Fast
For 15 years, Lead to Read KC has operated on a fairly simple belief: when a child has consistent...
“I can be neutral on most issues, but not literacy.”
Nineteen years. That's how long one of our book sorting volunteers had gone without putting any...
Nurturing Readers, Not Just Reading Skills
When people talk about literacy, the conversation often centers on skills and for good reason....
“Reading with students within our community for the past decade has been one of the most rewarding endeavors that our employees have taken part in together. Thanks to Lead to Read KC, we’re not only able to help children sharpen an important life skill, but we’re also giving them the opportunity to interact with engineers who may inspire them to pursue careers in STEM down the road. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see this transformation take place and the confidence that’s built provides a spark that brings a smile to our faces! While it’s incredibly fulfilling for us, the bigger impact this program has on the kids’ education and future career prospects is what makes it worth every minute.”
The Latest
Recent Snapshots
Events
Join Us!
Lead to Read KC offers two recurring volunteer opportunities, Fourth Thursday Book Fulfillment and Fun Friday Book Sorting, or join the outreach team and represent us at community events.
Plus, check out the dates and details for our three main fundraisers: KC Reads business breakfast, Trivia Night, and The KC Book Fair.
Media
KC organization marks 15 years fighting literacy crisis with metro-wide book drive
Lead to Read KC is partnering with 15 independent bookstores through Aug. 23 to collect new and like-new children’s books.
Get Involved
We need you! There are so many ways to be part of the solution to our community’s literacy crisis. Choose to give your time or resources to Lead to Read KC.