TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – WCTV is partnering with Midtown Reader for another year of Let’s Read, an initiative to improve literacy in Leon County’s Title I schools. The program gives students access to books they might not otherwise have at home, helping build reading skills early.
April Knight, director of Title I programs, said many students do not have books at home, creating a learning gap before they even enter the classroom.
“It starts here with elementary,” Knight said. “Reading also allows us to make connections to the real world, which is an indication of comprehension and learning.”
Title I schools receive federal funding to support students from low-income families.
Watch WCTV anchors and meteorologists read books for Let’s Read:
The first Read and Rise book fair will be held Feb. 24 at Oak Ridge Elementary School. Principal Michael Landrum said many parents work extra hours and cannot always provide books at home.
“A lot of our parents are doing a lot of extra things to provide for the home, so they’re not having the opportunity to provide for their students those opportunities to go to the library and purchase books or to check books,” Landrum said.
Through community donations, students attending the fair will get to take home two free books.
“It’s just like kids walking into a candy store with all these free books,” Landrum said. “It’s just a great opportunity for all of us to come together to let our students know how important they are and let them know that people do actually care about them and want them to succeed.”
The first book fair is Feb. 24 at Oak Ridge Elementary. Donations can help put books in the hands of children and support future leaders.
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