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JUNE 18,1998
FIRST LADY AND SECRETARY RILEY KICK OFF SUMMER READING SEASON, ANNOUNCE PROJECTS IN 50 STATES TO FIGHT READING DROP-OFF"
-- Education Secretary Calls on Congress to Pass Child Literacy Bill Quickly --
First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton joined U.S. Education Secretary Richard W. Riley today at a Head Start center in Washington, D.C., to kick-off the summer reading season around the country. Riley announced that the America Reads Challenge has summer reading projects in all 50 states to fight the summer reading drop-off.
Riley also called on Congress to quickly pass a $210 million child literacy bill that he said is stalled in the Senate.
They spoke at a kickoff rally for Jumpstart, which pairs college students with preschool youngsters to prepare them for school success.
Illiteracy is the ball and chain that ties us to poverty, and we must smash it forever," Riley told the rally of Jumpstart college students from Boston, New York City, New Haven, Conn., and Washington, D.C. The best thing we can do to improve education is to read to our children daily. If the parents can't always do it, then grandparents like me, or other caring adults must step in. Learning shouldn't end because school is out -- these summer months offer precious opportunity to prepare all our children to be good readers."
Riley cited numerous studies that show the summer reading dropoff has predictable, negative consequences for student achievement, particularly for disadvantaged children. Students who don't read during the summer months fall badly behind those who do. Participation in summer reading programs can help students maintain their school year gains, catch up to grade level, or even get ahead.
Riley announced that Read*Write*Now! Projects are promoting summer reading in all 50 states. Read*Write*Now! is an America Reads program which pairs children with learning partners to encourage summer reading. Last year, 85,000 children were reached through 14 coordinators. In 1998, 58 coordinators are organizing in hundreds of locations nationwide.
Read*Write Now! encourages a child to read for 30 minutes each day, five days a week, for 8 weeks. At least one of those days, the child reads with an adult partner. The child is also helped to obtain and use a library card. Upon completion of the program, the child earns a coupon for a free pizza from Pizza Hut. Many reading programs will continue during the school year.
Riley called on Congress to do its part and pass a child literacy bill before leaving Washington for the July Fourth holiday. Although the administration and Congress have agreed to spend money on child literacy this year, Congress created a self-imposed deadline of June 30 to pass a bill describing how to spend it.
Americans everywhere are doing their part to teach our children to read: parents, teachers, librarians, volunteers, businesses, community groups -- even the children themselves are working very hard this summer," Riley said. "But Congress is sitting on a Senate bill that would give $210 million to improve child literacy. It would be a shame if they go off on vacation and let this funding be forfeited. I say to Congress, do your part and we'll all celebrate a new beginning on Independence Day!"The bill sponsored by U.S. Sen. James M. Jeffords, R-Vt., would improve teacher training in reading, support community partnerships for literacy, and expand family literacy services.
The America Reads Challenge is President Clinton's initiative to help all children become good readers by the end of third grade.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: Free Read*Write*Now! Activity Kits are available by calling 1-800-USA-LEARN. A full listing of Read*Write*Now! coordinators is available by calling 202/401-8888 or on the web at http://www.ed.gov/inits/americareads/, under President's Coalition, Read*Write*Now! Projects.