Eagles' Brandon Boykin advocates for child literacy

WEST OAK LANE (WPVI) -- Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Brandon Boykin stopped by Prince Hall Elementary in West Oak Lane to advocate for child literacy.

"Reading is going to take you so far because it applies to every single part of your life," he told the students.

Boykin and the Eagles Youth Partnership have joined the "Read by 4th" campaign, supporting new efforts to boost the number of children in Philadelphia who are reading at grade level by the fourth grade.

"And fourth grade is critical because you move from learning to read and from reading to learn and if you can't pivot in fourth grade, it's very hard to graduate," said Sarah Martinez-Helfman, Eagles Youth Partnership executive director.

It's a city-wide campaign. Educators say more than half of the students beginning fourth grade in Philadelphia could not read at grade level in 2012.

However on Wednesday at Prince Hall, 60 percent of third graders are reading at grade level.

"I learned that reading is important," said Sanai Nettles, second grader.

As Boykin signed autographs for the children, he reflected on how his parents viewed the importance of him being a good reader and student.

"When I was a kid, my mom and dad made sure education came above everything else. Sports were like a privilege, as long as my grades were good then I was able to play," said Boykin.

His message to these young students will be repeated throughout the city.

"It's also a message to parents because parents need to take time to not just read to their kids, though that's critical, but to have conversations with their kids," said Martinez-Helfman.

Boykin even challenged these boys and girls to #dothe22," which is reading for 22 minutes every day and the students are stepping up and accepting the challenge.