hOW DO YOU MEASURE EARLY GRADE SUCCESS?

​Many employers have trouble finding qualified workers. This is because many students graduate high school but still need extra help before they can succeed in college or other training programs. Schools and training programs spend a lot of time and money on these extra classes.

The problem starts way before high school, though. In middle school, some students lose interest in learning because they struggle to keep up in class. And what causes that struggle? Often, it can be traced back to third grade. ​

Why is third grade so important? Because by then, students should be reading well on their own. Once they're good readers, they can learn from everything they read in school. But if they're still struggling to read, they won't understand half of what they're supposed to be learning!

C5 uses the English Language Arts portion of the TN Department of Education's standardized annual assessment (known as TCAP or TN Ready) to measure early grade success. Our strategies focus on increasing access to books and other educational, increasing parents' knowledge of the skills needed to be successful after third grade, identifying barriers to success, and expanding learning opportunities outside of school time.   

You are your child's first teacher, best coach, and most concerned advocate. Hop in, buckle up and join us in getting the children of Cocke County "ready for college, ready for a career, and ready for life".

The C5 Book Wagon Debuts!

On July 5th at the Summer Party at the Cocke County Fairgrounds, the Cocke County Cradle to Career Coalition (C5) proudly rolled out its brand-new Book Wagon—a mobile free book fair designed to spark a love of reading in children across our community.

The debut was a huge success:

• 102 children and 70 caregivers visited the wagon
• Over 300 brand-new books went home with kids to build their personal libraries
• Families received 50 food boxes (more than 200 meals) in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Newport
• Families with children under 5 could sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library right on the wagon
• Families took home first aid bandage kits and trial-size sunscreen, reinforcing C5’s commitment to child health and safety

The Book Wagon is more than just a fun way to get books—it’s about meeting families where they are and ensuring every child has access to stories that inspire imagination and confidence. By connecting books, basic needs, and health resources, C5 is making reading a joyful, shared experience that supports the whole child and family.

The debut event is just the beginning of the Book Wagon’s journey through Cocke County—and the start of many new stories waiting to be told!

Every stop of the Book Wagon is a chance
to spark imagination, support families,
​and grow lifelong readers.