The Right to Read follows Oakland NAACP activist, Kareem Weaver, who believes literacy is our most important civil right. With a focus on Black and brown children, Kareem demands Oakland schools bring in science-based reading instruction. First-grade teacher Sabrina Causey becomes one of his most critical allies. Despite heated debates on reading instruction, parents and advocates work to increase literacy rates throughout the country. In Virginia Beach, Teresa trains parents in oral language skills to prepare their children for kindergarten. In rural Mississippi, where only 21% of children can read, Melinda looks at educational technology to help her child receive vital reading skills.