Earl M. Phalen

Earl Martin Phalen is deeply committed to the education of children. Phalen is the CEO of Reach Out and Read and Founder of Summer Advantage USA. Reach Out and Read, promotes early literacy skill development of children ages 0-5; and Summer Advantage USA ensures the academic and social development of school-aged children, ages 5-14. ROR is in 4,300 health centers throughout the country and impacts the lives of 3.7 million children annually, and Summer Advantage is a start-up organization that will scale its program to children throughout the country.

Both programs are evidence-based. ROR children have significantly higher vocabulary and language scores, and other pre-literacy skills. There is also a four times increase in literacy activities (reading aloud as a favorite activity, reading aloud more than 3x per week) for ROR parents. Participation in Summer Advantage USA makes a 5 month annual difference in children’s learning achievement.

Phalen is a proven leader with a track record of success. He grew his former organization, BELL from a community service project educating 20 children to a national non-proﬁt educating 15,000 scholars annually, and President Obama modeled federal legislation after his summer learning program. Phalen is a Mind Trust Fellow and Ashoka Fellow, and holds a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.



		Earl Martin Phalen is deeply committed to the education of children. Phalen is the CEO of Reach Out and Read and Founder of Summer Advantage USA. Reach Out and Read, promotes early literacy skill development of children ages 0-5; and Summer Advantage USA ensures the academic and social development of school-aged children, ages 5-14. ROR is in 4,300 health centers throughout the country and impacts the lives of 3.7 million children annually, and Summer Advantage is a start-up organization that will scale its program to children throughout the country. Both programs are evidence-based. ROR children have significantly higher vocabulary and language scores, and other pre-literacy skills. There is also a four times increase in literacy activities (reading aloud as a favorite activity, reading aloud more than 3x per week) for ROR parents. Participation in Summer Advantage USA makes a 5 month annual difference in children’s learning achievement. Phalen is a proven leader with a track record of success. He grew his former organization, BELL from a community service project educating 20 children to a national non-proﬁt educating 15,000 scholars annually, and President Obama modeled federal legislation after his summer learning program. Phalen is a Mind Trust Fellow and Ashoka Fellow, and holds a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
email: emphalen@gmail.com \| phone: 617.818.1959