Brevard Public Schools in Florida Launch the 100 Book Challenge Reading Initiative Using Federal Stimulus Funds; Parents Sign On as Home Coaches and Participate in Parent Workshops

VIERA, Fla., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Brevard Public Schools has nine K-6 elementary schools participating in American Reading Company's 100 Book Challenge as a way to provide or supplement the availability of leveled text for independent reading.  Through this program, students have access to leveled classroom libraries to apply and connect their learning to the instructional focus of the 90-minute reading block. The initiative will include more than 7,000 participating students and their families.  

"All students need to have access to text which they can read with 95% accuracy so fluency, comprehension and vocabulary skills are maximized," said Debbie Wood, Elementary Literacy Facilitator for Brevard Public Schools.  "Our students need the opportunity to practice 'perfectly' their reading skills with success, just as an athlete practices mastery of one skill prior to moving on to a more difficult skill or technique.  This initiative is leveling the playing field for our students."

Parent involvement is also a critical component of 100 Book Challenge, and parents are eager to support their children at home with reading when given the tools and training to assist. "Parent participation has been phenomenal!" said Ms. Wood.  "Parent workshops have been well attended–most with standing room only–and principals are seeing a shift in their school culture, one focused on collegiality and literacy."

According to Jane Hileman, Founder and CEO of American Reading Company, "With Brevard's district leadership commitment, extensive professional development, and daily parent participation, we expect to see significant reading gains for all students."

Research shows that most students who are behind in reading are behind because they haven't read enough.  100 Book Challenge will change this as students will be expected to read 800 "steps" or 200 hours per school year.  Principals and teachers will undergo training to master research-based teaching methods aligned to Florida state standards, and schools have been infused with new classroom libraries of approximately 8,500 books per school.  

One of the nine schools participating in this district initiative, Palm Bay Elementary School, has also been selected to implement American Reading Company's most comprehensive intervention program, Action 100, to provide additional training for teachers and robust monitoring systems to aid in creating individualized interventions for struggling readers. "I am so excited about this program," said Principal Lori Migliore. "I have already seen outstanding enthusiasm from parents and students.  When students get excited about reading, it is a very good thing!"  Watch evidence of Brevard's student enthusiasm in this short video.

American Reading Company programs are not new to the state of Florida.  Currently 22 of the state's 67 school districts use American Reading Company programs, which have been positively reviewed by the Florida Center for Reading Research.

About American Reading Company

American Reading Company transforms school cultures to create sustainable reading achievement through training, management, and monitoring. The company was founded in 1998 and is now based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Today, more than a million students in 2,100 schools across 420 districts in 41 states participate in the company's programs, which include Action 100, 100 Book Challenge, Research Labs, and Summer School Express. For more information, please visit www.americanreading.com.

CONTACT: Jessica Lester (215) 884-6499

SOURCE American Reading Company