Unlocking Potential, One Page at a Time
Our Mission
At Azura Literacy, we are dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty and fostering upward mobility for children in Arizona’s most under-resourced communities through literacy. We empower struggling readers by providing individualized support to help them become proficient, paving the way for a brighter future.
Why Literacy Matters
Literacy is a lifeline. It empowers people through access to knowledge, higher education, and social and civic engagement.
Children who are not proficient in reading by the 4th grade are 4 times less likely to graduate high school (13 times if they live in poverty). People who drop out of high school have lower income potential and a higher risk of experiencing homelessness and incarceration.
Poor literacy is also linked to higher rates of chronic and preventable health issues as well as anxiety and depression, and the economic burden of a single person dropping out of high school is about $272,000.
In Arizona, the majority of students are not reading proficiently by the end of 3rd grade. 2024 Arizona state test results show a critical need for literacy support:
Only 39% of all 3rd graders were proficient in reading at the end of the school year and 50% of all 3rd graders scored in the lowest of four achievement levels.
Results were even more alarming for 3rd graders from low-income homes (27% proficient; 63% in lowest level) and foster care (22% proficient; 69% in lowest level).
Arizona’s staggering number of kids below grade level in reading and significantly under-resourced schools make extra support for struggling readers a dire need.