Events will raise awareness
of the importance of summer reading, as GaDOE and partners also donate 100,000
books
CONTACT Meghan Frick, GA Department of Education, 404-463-4246, mfrick@doe.k12.ga.us
Deborah
Hakes, Georgia Public Library Service, 404-852-5547, dhakes@georgialibraries.org
May
24, 2018 – When
students don’t read during the summer months, they lose educational ground:
research shows that students can lose up to three months of reading ability
over the summer. This phenomenon – known as the summer slide – can lower
achievement potential and widen the achievement gap. The effect is more
pronounced as students get older, and for students from economically
disadvantaged backgrounds.
“For many families, a public library is the only community
space available where they can access free educational and cultural enrichment
activities during the summer months,” said State Librarian Julie Walker. “Georgia’s
public libraries have a robust Summer Reading Program in every
county.”
The
Georgia Department of Education is supporting this initiative by collaborating
with Georgia Public Library Service on Summer Reading Program kickoff events
across the state and distributing approximately 100,000 books to students. The
latter is possible thanks to Better World Books, which donated gently used
and age-appropriate reading material, and Action Ministries, which assisted with storage and logistics.
“Having
access to books and educational opportunities during the summer months is so
important to a student’s long-term literacy skills,” State School
Superintendent Richard Woods said. “We’re committed to taking action to make
sure Georgia students have those opportunities. From hosting events with
Georgia’s public libraries to giving away free books all over the state -- none
of this could be done without our partners. I deeply appreciate the work of the
Georgia Public Library Service, Better World Books, and Action Ministries on
behalf of Georgia’s kids.”
Attend
a Summer Reading Program kickoff event
GaDOE
and Georgia Public Library Service will participate in Summer Reading Program
kickoff events at four public libraries throughout the state. Members of the
public are encouraged to attend these events, which will feature summer reading
activities and programming along with an opportunity to receive free books.
- Wednesday, May
30, at 10 a.m. at the Mary Vinson Memorial Library featuring Sing! with
Wendy Bennett, 151 S Jefferson ST SE Milledgeville,
Georgia, 31061.
- Monday, June
4, at 12:30 p.m. at the Dodge County Library featuring musician Charlie
Williams, 531 2nd Ave, Eastman, GA 31023
- Monday, June
11, at 10:30 a.m., at the Coweta County Central Library featuring Dr.
Magical Balloons, 85 Literary Ln, Newnan, GA 30265.
- Tuesday, June 12, at 10 a.m. at
the Harlem Branch Library featuring the Chad Crews Magic Show, 145 N Louisville St, Harlem, GA 30814.
####
The Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) empowers libraries to
improve the lives of all Georgians by encouraging reading, literacy and
education through the continuing support and improvement of our public
libraries. GPLS is a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of
Georgia. www.georgialibraries.org
Led by State School Superintendent Richard Woods, the Georgia
Department of Education (GaDOE) is the state agency serving Georgia’s K-12
public school districts, schools, and students. GaDOE’s strategic plan
emphasizes transforming the agency into one that provides meaningful support to
schools and districts, with an emphasis on child-focused, classroom-centered
education policy. GaDOE staff work to ensure that the nearly 1.8 million
students in Georgia’s public schools receive a holistic education that focuses
on the whole child, and graduate ready to learn, ready to live, and ready to
lead.
