For kids across Washington state who are struggling readers, a type of book club for families is showing promising results. But state and federal budget cuts have shrunk the program by 85%. Supporters hope for a turnaround this year.<\/p>\n
As with many book clubs, the Prime Time Family Reading Program<\/a> involves eating as well as reading.<\/p>\n \u201cWe start off with a really simple meal, pizza or burritos,” said Julie Ziegler, CEO and executive director of Humanities Washington, which oversees the program. “A lot of families are coming from school or work and hungry tummies don\u2019t learn well.\u201d<\/p>\n RELATED: In reading, the nation’s students are still stuck in a pandemic slump<\/a><\/p>\n These meetings often take place in libraries or through after-school programs. The book clubs are intended for reluctant readers in third or fourth grade, who are referred through their schools.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve either decided reading is not for them \u2014 not good at it, don\u2019t like it \u2014 for whatever reason school interventions haven\u2019t helped,\u201d Ziegler said.<\/p>\n At the weekly meetings, storytellers read books out loud to the group and lead meaningful conversations about them. They try to help parents with any hesitation they might feel about reading out loud to their own kids. And facilitators send books home with families to read for the coming week.<\/p>\n \u201cTeachers tell us that kids who participate in the program often jump three reading levels or more just over that six-week period of time,\u201d Ziegler said.<\/p>\n RELATED: Kids who use social media score lower on reading and memory tests, a study shows<\/a><\/p>\n Ziegler said the program got an infusion of $1 million in one-time federal funding in 2022, which allowed it to expand. But then the Trump administration and state lawmakers cut the program\u2019s funding completely last year.<\/p>\n There\u2019s demand for 92 locations statewide, but right now they can only offer 20 that obtained funding from private foundations. Ziegler said the goal is to serve communities that don\u2019t have any private funders available.<\/p>\n Current program hosts include KBTC public television in partnership with the Tacoma Housing Authority<\/a>, and the Port Gamble S\u2019klallam Tribe with the Kitsap Regional Library<\/a>.<\/p>\n The program also provides books for free and helps families get familiar with their local library. She said many families continue the weekly trip to the library after the program ends.<\/p>\n Ziegler is currently seeking $500,000 from the state Legislature to meet the demand for the program statewide.<\/p>\n