Rev It Up Reading Joins America’s Promise Alliance And Its Grad Nation Campaign

Rev It Up Reading Supports the Call to Reduce the High School Dropout Rate and Improve the Lives of America’s Young People

Wallingford, CT (I-Newswire) February 27, 2013 - Rev It Up Reading today announced they have become a partner with America’s Promise Alliance (America’s Promise). They will work with them to help reduce the nation’s high school dropout rate and ensure that America’s children and youth have the resources they need to lead healthy, successful lives.

Rev It Up Reading is a user-friendly and interactive online developmental reading course that focuses on speed reading strategies that build concentration, comprehension and retention. It was created by Abby Marks Beale, a popular speaker and well-documented speed reading expert who has written two best-selling books about speed reading. Rev It Up Reading supports the mission of America’s Promise by providing high school students with advanced reading training that aims to build reading confidence and competence. Previously, the most recent reading training students have is in elementary school.

Founded in 1997 with General Colin Powell as its founding chair, America’s Promise is the nation’s largest partnership dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth. Its strong national network of more than 400 partners is comprised of organizations representing all sectors of American life. Through America’s Promise, these partners are working together to end the dropout crisis and see that more children and youth experience the Five Promises in their lives—Caring Adults, Safe Places, A Healthy Start, Effective Education, and Opportunities to Help Others.

“We are delighted to join America’s Promise Alliance and look forward to the opportunity to help America’s youth reap the benefits of better and faster reading,” said Marks Beale. “Rev It Up Reading is a valuable tool for students to improve their reading abilities, feel more confident and succeed in school. It will help anyone reach their reading potential.”

As an official partner, Rev It Up Reading will support and take part in the work of America’s Promise to ensure that more of the nation’s young people experience the Five Promises and are prepared to finish high school prepared for college and the 21st century workforce. Rev It Up Reading will also be an active partner in supporting the work of the Grad Nation campaign, a large and growing movement of dedicated individuals, organizations and communities working together to end the dropout crisis. The goal of Grad Nation is to raise the national high school graduation rate to 90 percent by 2020, with no school graduating fewer than 80 percent of its students on time.

“Creating stronger communities where youth feel supported and encouraged is essential to America’s future strength and vitality,” said John Gomperts, president and CEO of America's Promise Alliance. “By coming together in common purpose, we demonstrate our commitment and the fact that we all have a role to play in the success of our children and youth, and we are infinitely more powerful as a united force. We’re thrilled that Rev It Up Reading has joined this movement.”

The work of America’s Promise includes signature initiatives like the 100 Best Communities for Young People competition and Grad Nation Communities. America’s Promise also supports and distributes numerous reports highlighting the latest research and data for communities and youth development practitioners. This includes the annual Building a Grad Nation report on the dropout crisis as well as resources on parental engagement, career exploration and communications. As a partner, Rev It Up Reading will have early access to all America’s Promise commissioned research, tools and information.