The Read to the Final Four program is an annual literacy challenge aimed at creating a lifelong love and interest in reading for students across the states in which the Men’s Final Four and Women’s Final Four are conducted. 

In anticipation of the 2024 Men’s Final Four, the NCAA and the Phoenix Final Four Local Organizing Committee have teamed up to help third-grade students across the state of Arizona. Created to support the NCAA’s commitment to education, Read to the Final Four was launched during the 2016 Men’s Final Four and has since made a lasting impact with thousands of students in several host cities across the nation having recorded over 121 million minutes of reading!

The NCAA Men’s Final Four and the 2024 Men’s Final Four Host Committee have teamed up to once again host Read to the Final Four to inspire and incentivize third graders to develop their reading abilities. Schools, teachers, and students participating in this tournament-style program have the chance to win fun prizes and compete to be named the Championship school. For an update on the Phoenix program, click here.

Similar efforts are being conducted in Cleveland, where the NCAA, Women’s Final Four and the Cleveland Local Organizing Committee have teamed up to help third graders across the state develop their abilities as part of a nine-week program designed to leave a lasting impact on students throughout Ohio. From January to April 2024, local elementary students are encouraged to track their reading minutes leading up to the Women’s Final Four. Participating students and leading classrooms will receive awards at Tourney Town to celebrate their accomplishments. The challenge is open to all third graders in elementary schools across the state, and the top four schools will win a trip to Tourney Town presented by Capital One at the Women’s Final Four. To learn more about the program in Cleveland, click here.