The Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading received multiple Pacesetter Honors from the national Campaign for Grade-Level Reading for its work to support early school success in 2019. Pacesetter Honors highlight communities that make measurable progress on key indicators of early school success: early literacy and school readiness; addressing chronic absence and its effects on reading progress; and mitigating summer learning loss by connecting children with quality educational opportunities and programs. The Suncoast Campaign, which represents aligned efforts in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties, has received Pacesetter Honors every year since 2014.

The Suncoast Campaign was one of only 21 communities recognized for its work in the areas of “Mobilizing Success” and “Deploying Innovative Strategies and Tools” to eliminate barriers faced by children from asset-limited families on the path to becoming proficient readers. Beyond these Pacesetter Honors, the Suncoast Campaign was named a finalist for additional Pacesetter Honors in the “Moving the Needle in Impact Areas” category, specifically for its summer and after school engagements and its efforts to improve parent success. Honorees in this category will be announced in September after a second round of reviews.