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MOEC Program, Metro-Omaha Raise Me To Read, Recognized for Supporting Early School Success

  • published: 2021/05/12
  • contact: College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
  • email: unocehhs@unomaha.edu
Education student reading to a child

The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (CGLR) recently named Metro-Omaha Raise Me to Read to the 2021 Bright Spot Community for its response to the COVID crisis. This recognition highlights organizations and communities that developed exemplary or innovative responses to the COVID crisis, including new or adaptive roles, programs, organizational relationships, collaborations, or policies.

Metro-Omaha Raise Me to Read is a program supported by UNO's Metropolitan Omaha Educational Consortium (MOEC), a collaborative organization dedicated to public education and bringing together Omaha-area educators together to meet education commitments.

Raise Me to Read logo

During the pandemic, Metro-Omaha Raise Me to Read provided resources and equipment to Omaha students and families and offered online teaching support to educators through free professional development opportunities. Metro-Omaha Raise Me to Read partnered with UNO's Teacher Education Department to offer scholarships for Omaha-area educators to take the graduate-level course Online Teaching and Learning.

"The varied strategies devised at the city and state provided direct and meaningful assistance to families and students in addition to support, learning, and planning for educators," said Kathleen Knudsen, Facilitator of Metro-Omaha Raise Me to Read. "It is gratifying to receive national recognition for the immediate reaction and planned response executed by dedicated Nebraskans."

Other Metro-Omaha Raise Me to Read community partners include:

  • Empowerment Network
  • United Way of the Midlands
  • Food Bank for the Heartland
  • NorthStar Foundation
  • Partnership 4 Kids
  • Omaha Public Schools
  • Millard Public Schools
  • Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties

Read the full news release >>

About Metro-Omaha Raise Me to Read
The Metro-Omaha Raise Me to Read campaign is supported by its backbone, MOEC, the Metropolitan Educational Consortium, and community partners: the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy County, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and the United Way of the Midlands. Learn more about local efforts at Raise Me to Read and follow on Twitter at @MetroOmaha_RMtR.

About the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
Launched in 2010, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is a collaborative effort of funders, nonprofit partners, business leaders, government agencies, states, and communities across the nation to ensure that many more children from low-income families succeed in school and graduate prepared for college, a career and active citizenship. Since its launch, CGLR has grown to include more than 300 communities, representing 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and two provinces in Canada—with 5,000+ local organizations and 510 state and local funders (including 200+ United Ways). To learn more, visit gradelevelreading.net and follow the movement on Twitter @readingby3rd.