To improve early literacy and close racial achievement gaps, The Opportunity Trust and St. Louis-based global technology firm Emerson have launched the second cohort of the Emerson Early Literacy Challenge — a $1 million initiative aimed at helping more children read proficiently by third grade.
The renewed effort builds on the momentum of last year’s launch, continuing to answer the urgent call from the St. Louis NAACP to tackle the city’s literacy crisis — a crisis that disproportionately affects students of color and those in under-resourced schools.
“At Emerson, we believe strong early childhood literacy lays the foundation for a thriving workforce and community,” said Akberet Boykin Farr, Vice President of HR, Corporate Functions at Emerson. “We’re proud to continue our investment of $1 million this year to deepen our impact and help more students unlock the power of reading.”
Four public schools in St. Louis City and County will be selected to participate in the year-long initiative. Each school team — made up of educators, school leaders, parents, and community partners — will engage in intensive professional development rooted in the Science of Reading, a research-backed approach to literacy instruction.
The program provides a $5,000 planning grant to selected teams, followed by a $200,000 implementation grant for schools that complete the program. Year-round support includes learning sessions, coaching, and opportunities to collaborate with national literacy experts and peer institutions.
“We’ve seen what’s possible when schools are equipped with high-quality training and support rooted in evidence-based literacy instruction,” said Eric Scroggins, CEO of The Opportunity Trust. “This next cohort of the Emerson Early Literacy Challenge continues our commitment to accelerating literacy gains and proving what’s possible for all students in St. Louis.”
Applications for the second cohort are now open and will close on September 5, 2025. School and district leaders in St. Louis City and County are encouraged to apply at emersonliteracychallenge.org.