February 28, 2014
Read On Communities
Nogales International | February 28, 2014
The program “Read On Santa Cruz County,” part of a statewide initiative aimed at ensuring that children are reading at grade level by the end of third grade, is set to kick off Monday, March 3, with special events scheduled at schools throughout the county.
Read On Santa Cruz County also aims to provide ongoing support so children continue to read at grade level as they progress through school, said the County School Superintendent’s Office, which is spearheading the initiative.
“Encouraging our children to read – and to love reading – at an early age is one of the most important things we can do as parents and as a community – it sets the foundation for a lifetime of success,” Superintendent Alfredo Velasquez said in a news release. “This collaboration is unique because it engages parents, caregivers, neighbors, and community partners in a united focus to make literacy possible for all children.”
According to Velasquez’s office, Read On Santa Cruz County will engage parents and community partners to improve reading proficiency by focusing on school readiness, family engagement, and the other critical factors that impact a child’s progress to becoming a successful reader.
“The collaboration that Read On Santa Cruz County is leading is critical to building a pathway for early literacy so Santa Cruz County’s children have the support and services they need to meet their potential as young readers and thrive,” said Arizona Literacy Director Terri Clark.
The Superintendent’s Office invites all members of the community to get involved. Contact Rafael Lopez at (520) 375-7940 or rmlopez@santacruzcountyaz.gov.
Originally published in the Nogales International.
