Our Mission
WITS believes that literacy is the foundation on which all other learning develops. Our mission is to empower Chicago elementary students to discover themselves through reading while developing foundational literacy skills. We do this by creating community through literacy-based mentorship, enabling teachers to build diverse classroom libraries, and promoting book ownership at home.
Our Outcomes
According to data from The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), based on testing from 2025, only 41% of students in Chicago Public Schools are proficient in reading.
By the end of the school year, 62% of WITS students met or exceeded the national reading proficiency standard, a significant increase from 40% at the start of the year.
85% of WITS-K teachers reported their students had developed specialized reading interests throughout the year, an increase of more than 36% from the beginning of the school year.
87% of WITS students reported having positive attitudes towards reading at the end of the school year, up from 67% at the beginning of the year.
At the end of the school year, an across-program average of 97% of WITS students reported feeling good or very good about spending time with their mentors.
100% of schools with WITS programs rated WITS partnership as important to their students & school community.
Our Impact
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Books
Each year, WITS gives over 10,000 books to students and teachers to build libraries. This initiative directly addresses the book-ownership gap affecting low-income families.
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Students
WITS impacts the lives of over 4,500 students annually through mentorship and book ownership programs.
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Mentors
WITS activates over 400 mentors annually in our corporate engagement programs and volunteer opportunities.
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Grants
WITS offers 100 grants to Chicago Public School teachers annually, enabling them to purchase books for their classroom libraries that cater to their students' interests.
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Companies
Over 30 companies support WITS by providing essential funding and mentorship — ensuring our programs stay free for CPS schools and families.
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Schools
WITS programs are found in over 70 public schools in Chicago.
What We Are About
Who We Are
WITS is the largest provider of literacy enrichment programming and activator of corporate partnerships in Chicago Public Schools. WITS is comprised of over 70 Chicago elementary schools, over 30 Chicago companies, and a network of hundreds of students, teachers, and volunteers.
What We Do
WITS partners with Chicago Public Schools to foster equitable learning opportunities through free, consistent, student-centered programming and book distribution initiatives. Each year, more than 4,500 students build literacy skills, confidence, and a love of reading. By providing these resources at foundational ages, WITS strengthens school communities and supports students’ long-term success.
Why We Do It
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- Only 41% of students in Chicago Public Schools are proficient in reading.
- 70% of CPS students come from low-income families, and 61% of low-income families have no age-appropriate children’s books at home.
- Only 21% of CPS elementary schools have a usable library. As a result, most of the district’s 316,000 students rely on classroom libraries for reading material.
- Only 41% of students in Chicago Public Schools are proficient in reading.
- 70% of CPS students come from low-income families, and 61% of low-income families have no age-appropriate children’s books at home.
- Only 21% of CPS elementary schools have a usable library. As a result, most of the district’s 316,000 students rely on classroom libraries for reading material.
