More Resources NCLB Summer Reading Achievers

Thousands of Springfield Public School students will benefit from a summer reading program under the No Child Left Behind Act, U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige announced today. The No Child Left Behind Summer Reading Achievers Program encourages students in grades K-8 to read actively during the summer months and avoid the loss of reading skills that often occurs during summer vacation. The program was piloted last year by the Atlanta Public Schools, with nearly 18,000 students participating.

"We want to make sure that reading is enjoyable for children and becomes a regular summertime ritual," Secretary Paige said. "We know from research that students often lose some of their skills during the summer break, so it's important to encourage children to keep up those skills. Through this summer reading program, we hope that children will see reading as not just a schooltime activity but as something that is also fun, entertaining and a regular part of life."

On behalf of Secretary Paige, the department's regional representative, Michael Sentance, kicked off Springfield's participation with state Deputy Education Commissioner Mark McQuillan, Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Joseph Burke, Springfield Education Committee Vice-Chair Thomas Ashe, Liberty School Principal Anthony Hill and students at the Liberty School in Springfield.

"Dr. Burke and Mr. McQuillan have been tremendous supporters of No Child Left Behind and the Summer Reading Achievers Program," Sentance said. "We appreciate the enthusiasm and leadership of the Springfield Public Schools in helping us identify strategies to make this program work in ethnically diverse, urban areas all across the country."

"In a culture of achievement, everyone believes, and acts in accordance with the belief, that all learners can achieve," Superintendent Burke said. "With the help of programs like Summer Reading Achievers, we are building a culture of achievement in every school and classroom in Springfield."

This year's program will be at the following sites: Springfield, Mass.; Portsmouth, N.H.; Pittsburgh.; Camden, N.J.; Atlanta; Gainesville, Fla.; Kansas City, Kan.; Minneapolis; Albuquerque, N.M; San Diego; and the state of South Dakota. The sites were selected based on the presence of supportive community and business groups and active school district leaders who are working to reduce the achievement gap.

To participate in the program, students must read 10 age-appropriate books during the summer months. Students will be required to describe briefly the books they have read by completing a simple form. Prizes and certificates will be awarded to successful students, and special recognition will be given to schools with the highest percentages of participating students.

School districts will work with the department to conduct outreach and promote the program. They also will work with businesses and community organizations to attract support for the program. In addition, the department will conduct local workshops and provide materials and certificates.

Contributing sponsors for the 2004 program include Target Stores, Scholastic, Inc., USA Football, First Book, the National PTA, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Communities in Schools, Inc. Other partners will be announced at a later date. Partner organizations will provide other incentives and forms of recognition.

One of President Bush's first actions after taking office was to promote children's reading achievement because studies show that when children fail to learn to read early in school, every aspect of school success is affected. By providing early diagnosis and help for reading difficulties, Reading First-supported programs help improve student motivation and academic achievement.

Reading First is designed around an extensive knowledge base of the essential skills children must have to learn to read. The program reflects the findings of a congressionally mandated, extensive review of scientifically based research on how students learn to read, which was completed by the National Reading Panel in 2000.

Reading First was passed into law by a bipartisan majority of Congress under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and centers on the following priorities: raising the caliber and quality of classroom instruction; basing instruction on scientifically proven methods; providing professional training for educators in reading instruction; and supplying substantial resources to support the unprecedented initiative.

President Bush's FY 2005 budget includes $1.3 billion in reading funding, including $1.1 billion for Reading First, $132 million for Early Reading First and $100 million for the Striving Readers program to meet the president's goal of ensuring that all children can read on grade level by the third grade.

More information about the No Child Left Behind Act is available at www.nochildleftbehind.gov.

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