SitStayRead is Chicago's sole literacy organization leveraging the power of the human-canine bond to motivate emergent readers in kindergarten through second grade to develop a passion for reading that will lead them to become proficient, curious, and enthusiastic readers. SitStayRead advances children's literacy and builds confidence in young readers with its engaging, evidence-based curricula which incorporate social-emotional learning.

Classroom residencies and family literacy events are enriched by individual and small group interaction with trained volunteer Book Buddies and Certified Reading Assistance Dog Teams. SitStayRead is a no-cost vendor for Chicago Public Schools, and also serves the Chicago Public Library, charter and parochial schools, and community organizations in our prioritized communities.

More than 90% of our students live in low-income households, and attend schools where 60% of third-graders, according to the ISBE’s annual report, score below the national average in reading; in low-income CPS schools the 2024-25 average was only 21% proficiency.

In 2024-25 SitStayRead dramatically increased its reach, serving more than 1,800 emerging readers, upon reentering Chicago Public Schools after a 4.5 year hiatus, and establishing a new, ongoing partnership with the Chicago Public LIbrary’s Children's Services and Family Engagement. Programs are delivered by a lean staff of 3.5, a growing cohort of seasonal contracted Program Leads, and a rapidly expanding corps of trained, volunteer Book Buddies and Certified Reading Dog Teams. Funding from the FDC Foundation will support our work in the 2025-26 school year, as we aim to reach 2,000 students and distribute more than 7,500 new books.

In the fall of 2025, SSR has served more than twice as many classrooms and library branches as in the same period last year, due to a new organizational structure that includes seasonal Program Leads during the academic year, and a growing volunteer corps.

This grant allows us to hire an additional Program Lead, ideally bilingual, so we can move a 2nd grade classroom on Chicago's west or south side off the growing no-cost residency waitlist list in early 2026. Supporting current or recent graduate students from the same neighborhoods we serve pursuing work in the education, social work, and mental health sectors is a secondary goal for this strategy of scaling.

We receive each child as they come to us, building on their assets to move forward in their journey with language.