State Education Secretary Paul Reville will visit Sharon next Monday as part of a statewide tour promoting early literacy.

Reville will be at the Sharon Cooperative School at 2:30 p.m., the third of four stops scheduled so far, state education officials said today in a press release.

Reville will "highlight the importance of establishing strong literacy foundations for children at an early age" during the tour, which began this morning at the SLC program at the Ellis Memorial Pre-School Program in Boston, according to the release.

"The Patrick-Murray Administration has set a goal of literacy proficiency by the third grade for every child in Massachusetts and is working on a number of fronts to ensure that young children and their families have the supports necessary for a successful start," the release says.

"Statistics show that three-quarters of children who struggle with reading in third grade will continue to struggle academically, greatly reducing their chances of graduating from high school, going to college or successfully participating in a 21st century high skill economy.

"Data also shows that children who receive high-quality literacy instruction during their earliest years are more prepared for kindergarten and success in elementary school and beyond.  Additionally, students who receive intensive literacy instruction over the summer are able to maintain knowledge over the critical break from school and even make gains in reading proficiency."