The School District of Philadelphia’s young students received a huge boost that encourage more summer reading.

Today Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced that the City’s Department of Human Services (DHS) will donate nearly 205,000 books to all K-3 students enrolled in the School District of Philadelphia. As a result 51,200 students will each receive four books before the 2013-4 school year ends.

The initiative supports the Grade Level Reading by Third Grade campaign, led by the Annie. E. Casey Foundation. Research supports the theory that kids who fail to read at an appropriate grade-level by the conclusion of third grade face a significant risk to fall permanently behind their peers. Children who do not read during the summer often experience “summer slide” and regress from reading gains made during the school year.
This scenario affects economically-disadvantaged students more than average because often they don’t have finances for books or educational summer programs.

Today’s announcement is one step closer to bridge the reading-level gap for students enrolled in the School District of Philadelphia.

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