Creating Opportunities Through Education
Mission Statement
Better Basics empowers children across Alabama by equipping them with foundational academic skills and educational opportunities for lifelong success.
Vision Statement
We envision strong communities with expanded access to education where every child’s potential is realized.
How Can You Help?
What is Better Basics?
Better Basics is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization advancing children’s reading and mathematics literacy. Better Basics was founded in 1993 by John Glasser, who saw the direct correlation between poverty and illiteracy.
Why is Better Basics Important?
An estimated 14.8% of Alabamians are illiterate.
40% of children walk into kindergarten one-to-three years behind every year
61% of low-income children grow up in homes without books
Children not reading at grade level by the end of third grade and living in poverty are 13 times less likely to graduate from high school.