Columbus, Ohio2027 NCAA Women’s Final Four
Read to the Final Four Columbus
Third graders across central Ohio read their way to the 2027 NCAA Women’s Final Four. Teachers, librarians, and principals register their school, students log their reading minutes, and the Top 76 schools advance into a bracket that mirrors the 2027 NCAA Women’s Final Four.
Where does your school stand?
232 schools are invited to participate. Each logging week runs Monday through Sunday, and schools advance on average minutes read per registered third grader, not on school size. One strong week can flip a matchup.
Register your school for the Columbus challenge
Registration opens October 1 through October 30 at the link below. We prefer one librarian or staff member to register the whole school in a single form, but an individual teacher can register just their own class. There is no app to download, and families do not register individually.
Key program dates
Full schedule
What is Read to the Final Four?
Read to the Final Four is the NCAA’s reading challenge for third graders in the city hosting the Women’s Final Four. In Columbus, schools read through a preseason to earn one of 76 spots, matching the 76-team field of the 2027 NCAA Women’s Final Four. From there they compete across four quarters of weekly logging. Schools advance on average minutes read per registered third grader, so a small school competes on even footing with a large one.
A school registers
Ideally a librarian registers the whole school at once, listing every third grade class. A single teacher can also register just their own class.
Students track minutes
Third graders read anything they like, write their minutes on a paper reading log, and turn the log in to their teacher.
Teachers report weekly
The teacher or librarian submits the classroom’s total minutes each week through the reporting link we email. Students never log in.
Schools advance
Weekly totals move schools through the bracket toward the championship, celebrated at the 2027 Women’s Final Four in Columbus.
Prizes along the way. Readers and classrooms earn books, gear, and Columbus event experiences through the season. Full prizing details are posted in Resources below once finalized.
Program resources
Everything a teacher or family needs to run the challenge. Materials post here as they are finalized.
Questions about the Columbus challenge?
Reach the right team for the fastest answer.