Camden City Public Schools Announce Historic and Unprecedented District-Wide Reading Initiative with American Reading Company Using Federal Stimulus Funds
Posted on: Wednesday, 9 September 2009, 13:56 CDT
CAMDEN, N.J., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Camden City Public Schools announced today that all 20 Elementary and Family Schools will participate in American Reading Company's 100 Book Challenge, an intensive intervention program proven to dramatically increase student achievement in reading. The initiative will be implemented in approximately 500 classrooms with over 8,000 participating students.
"This is an historic and unprecedented district-wide implementation in Camden," says Dr. B. Lefra Young, Superintendent of Schools. "It is our number one priority to ensure that every student is reading on or above grade level. With a collective effort from principals, teachers, parents, students, district staff, union leaders, and community members, we are already on our way toward achieving this goal."
According to Jane Hileman, Founder and CEO of American Reading Company, "Camden's commitment to systemic change is evident by the accountability requirements Superintendent Young is placing on every stakeholder."
Research shows that most students who are behind in reading are behind because they haven't read enough. In Camden, over 60 percent of elementary school students and 75 percent of middle school students are currently behind. American Reading Company's intervention model will change this as over 600 personnel embark on 23 days of professional development to master research-based teaching methods aligned to New Jersey state standards. Schools will be infused with new classroom libraries comprised of 15,000 of the best titles in print. Every student will be expected to read 800 "steps" or 200 hours this year.
According to Camden Mayor Gwen Faison, "The stimulus program is injecting much needed funding into our school district that will create the very type of long-term benefits that are stipulated by President Obama. Our entire city is committed to this program."
A kick-off event will be held on September 14th at Raphael Cordero Molina Elementary School. Among the special guests will be Mayor Faison, Superintendent Young, Ms. Hileman, and Mr. Michael Roundtree of the US Department of Education. Church bells across Camden will ring at 10AM to signal the beginning of this historic initiative.
About American Reading Company
The Company was founded in 1998 and is based in King of Prussia, PA. Today, more than a million students in over 1,800 schools, across 420 districts, in 40 states participate in the Company's programs. Learn more at www.americanreading.com.
CONTACT: Francine Rosenthal frosenthal@americanreading.com +1-866-810-BOOK(2665)SOURCE American Reading Company
Source: PR Newswire
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