Senate Joint Resolution 25-007
Page 1, Line 101Concerning proclaiming February 14 as "Colorado Read to
Page 1, Line 102Your Child Day".
Page 1, Line 1WHEREAS, The most important activity for setting the foundation for future literacy success is reading aloud to children; and
Page 1, Line 2
Page 1, Line 3WHEREAS, Strong literacy skills are essential for the
Page 1, Line 4development and growth of a community and our nation, and the ability
Page 1, Line 5to read by third grade is critical to a child's ability to learn in the future; and
Page 1, Line 6
Page 1, Line 7WHEREAS, Children who struggle with literacy are more likely
Page 1, Line 8to eventually drop out of school without earning their high school
Page 1, Line 9diploma, have poor health, and struggle to acquire a living wage as an adult; and
Page 1, Line 10
Page 1, Line 11WHEREAS, A child's early years play a pivotal role in literacy, as
Page 1, Line 1290% of a child's brain has developed by age five, and skills learned between birth and age five predict literacy in later years; and
Page 1, Line 13
Page 1, Line 14WHEREAS, Children who struggle with literacy in kindergarten through third grade are unlikely to catch up to their peers; and
Page 2, Line 1
Page 2, Line 2WHEREAS, When children are read to aloud from birth, they are
Page 2, Line 3exposed to significantly more words in their early years, improving their
Page 2, Line 4vocabulary, comprehension and literacy skills, and increasing overall brain development; and
Page 2, Line 5
Page 2, Line 6WHEREAS, Children who experience this early exposure to books
Page 2, Line 7and have access to home libraries develop stronger language skills by the
Page 2, Line 8time they start school and are more likely to develop a lasting interest in reading and learning; and
Page 2, Line 9
Page 2, Line 10WHEREAS, When caregivers or loved ones read to children
Page 2, Line 11regularly, they build nurturing bonds that are vital for the child's cognitive
Page 2, Line 12and social-emotional health. Reading together provides positive attention
Page 2, Line 13from caring adults and creates a sense of security, while reducing stress and the negative impacts of adverse childhood experiences; and
Page 2, Line 14
Page 2, Line 15WHEREAS, More than 30 years of research demonstrates that
Page 2, Line 16reading aloud to a child accelerates development and boosts overall
Page 2, Line 17kindergarten readiness. Evidence also indicates that when children enter
Page 2, Line 18school with the developmental skills and foundation to succeed, the results of this early intervention last a lifetime; now, therefore,
Page 2, Line 19
Page 2, Line 20Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:
Page 2, Line 21
Page 2, Line 22That we, the members of the General Assembly, declare the state's
Page 2, Line 23commitment to birth-to-age-five early literacy by acknowledging
Page 2, Line 24February 14, 2025, as "Colorado Read to Your Child Day" in alignment with "National Read to Your Child Day".
Page 2, Line 25
Page 2, Line 26Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent
Page 2, Line 27to the Reach Out and Read Colorado and Imagination Library of Colorado organizations.