The NCAA, in the leadup to its 2027 Men’s Final Four at Ford Field in Detroit (April 3 and April 5), has launched a statewide literacy initiative designed to inspire a love of reading among third-grade students.
Announced Wednesday by the basketball tournament’s Detroit Local Organizing Committee, Read to the Final Four combines March Madness with the power of literacy, encouraging students to become champions both in the classroom and beyond.
The program is designed to engage third-grade classrooms throughout southeast Michigan and across all 83 counties.
Read to the Final Four is a tournament-style reading challenge in which students track reading minutes and advance through a March Madness-inspired bracket. Participants compete for prizes, free books, and the opportunity to experience the NCAA Men’s Final Four in Detroit.
Since its debut at the 2016 Men’s Final Four, the program has helped students nationwide accumulate more than 121 million minutes of reading.
“Youth literacy remains a critical educational priority in Detroit, throughout Michigan, and nationwide, as Read to the Final Four will serve as one of the most meaningful community legacy initiatives connected to the 2027 NCAA Men’s Final Four,” says Dave Beachnau, CEO of the Detroit Local Organizing Committee.
“This program complements the Detroit Sports Commission’s Living Legacy initiative, launched in 2024, which is focused on expanding literacy opportunities and supporting educational outcomes for young people throughout our region.”
L.J. Wright, director of men’s basketball for the NCAA, says, “March Madness has always been about heart and rising to the occasion, and that’s exactly what Read to the Final Four brings to students across Michigan.
“Every book becomes a chance to score, every chapter is another step forward, and every reading minute helps build champions for the future. What I love most about this program is seeing students get excited about reading and celebrating their progress together. The confidence they build through reading can stay with them long after this challenge ends, and we’re proud to be part of that journey.”
More than 100,000 students and 2,000-plus Michigan elementary schools are expected to participate during the 2026-27 school year, including students from Davison Elementary School in the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD).
Under the leadership of Charmaine Edwards, DPSCD’s 2026 Teacher of the Year, Davison Elementary third-grade students already have enrolled in the challenge.
“Read to the Final Four exemplifies how sports can inspire a lifelong love of learning,” says Edwards. “The program transforms reading from an individual academic activity into an engaging team experience. Students track their reading minutes, classrooms advance through tournament brackets, and schools compete for recognition, all while building the literacy skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.”
Throughout the 2026-27 school year, participating schools will record reading minutes, with tournament bracket competition beginning in early February and continuing through early March. The Final Four schools will be recognized and champions crowned during a celebration in Detroit on April 5, 2027.
For more information about Read to the Final Four, visit here.
