Photo: Kyle Bray/WBZ NewsRadio
QUINCY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Students at Clifford H. Marshall Elementary School in Quincy were the first kids in the country to try out Scholastic’s new United States of Readers Literacy Program.
As part of the program, students have the opportunity to pick 10 free brand-new books throughout the school year from Scholastic’s book club flyers.
Scholastic’s Chief Impact Officer Judy Newman said it’s important that kids get the book that they want.
“By the end of the year they get 10 books, all free, of the highest quality, books that every kid wants,” said Newman.
Students will get to pick two books to read at a time, with the goal of no kid being left behind.
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Massachusetts State Representative and House Speaker Ron Mariano spoke at the event. He said being back at Marshall was a trip down memory lane since he used to teach at a school in the area.
“Getting kids in programs like this, to [either] read for fun, read for enjoyment, to read things they like. Not reading assignments, but reading what they want to read,” Mariano said. “It is really a great way to pique their interest in learning,” he added.
According to a press release, only 14% of students reported regularly reading for fun. It said millions of students are reading below grade level, and overall scores are declining underscoring a massive crisis in student literacy.
The program will soon roll out nationwide. Locally, communities like Revere, Holyoke, and Framingham will get to take part in the program.
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