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THE STATE
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234 |
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TO: |
The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents |
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FROM: |
Carole F. Huxley |
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COMMITTEE: |
Full Board |
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TITLE OF
ITEM: |
New York State Library’s Statewide Summer Reading Program |
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DATE OF
SUBMISSION: |
February 22, 2005 |
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PROPOSED
HANDLING: |
Discussion |
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RATIONALE FOR
ITEM: |
The New York State Library’s Statewide Summer Reading Program is an effective tool in helping to close the achievement gap |
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STRATEGIC
GOAL: |
4 |
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AUTHORIZATION(S): |
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SUMMARY:
The Summer Reading Program in
public libraries throughout New York engages children from pre-school through
high school in books and related activities throughout the summer vacation. Library summer reading programs teach
youngsters to love reading while sustaining and raising literacy levels.
The program is especially important in high need school districts where students have limited resources for enrichment and schools struggle to raise achievement levels. Library summer reading programs can be an integral part of the Regents’ strategy to close the achievement gap if all the children who could benefit from it had the opportunity to participate.
The attachment shows how promotion
of the program has resulted in dramatic increases in children’s
participation. More than one
million students accepted Commissioner Mills’ invitation to “be one in a
million” and participated in the Summer Reading Program for 2004. It is anticipated that even more youngsters
will be part of the program for 2005, “Tune In @ Your Library.”
Despite a promotion partnership with EMSC, the education community still often overlooks this program as an important tool in their efforts to provide a quality education. While expanded promotion has resulted in extensive statewide publicity, the program is most effectively promoted in the schools. To make the program more effective for more children, staff would appreciate your thinking on the questions posed in the attachment as “Next Steps.”
Attachment