More Resources NCLB Summer Reading Achievers

Denver — Assistant Secretary of Education Laurie Rich and Colorado First Lady Frances Owens today highlighted the importance of reading to young children and presented free books to Reach Out and Read, Colorado during a visit to Children's Hospital in Denver.

"Reading is essential to a child's development and future success," U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige said. "It is important to encourage children to make reading a regular part of their lives. We are pleased with the strong corporate and community support for the Summer Reading Achievers Program and are happy to be able to give some of the books and prizes donated by the sponsors to Reach Out and Read, Colorado."

The books were donated by sponsors of the No Child Left Behind Summer Reading Achievers program, which encourages students in grades K-8 to read actively during the summer months to maintain their skills. Over the past summer, students in 11 sites around the country participated in the program and read over 384,000 books.

"We thank Reach Out and Read for its support for early literacy, its unique partnership with doctors, nurses, hospitals and health centers, and its innovative concept of bringing new books and reading right into the pediatric exam room," Assistant Secretary Rich said.

To participate in the Summer Reading Achievers program, students were required to read 10 age-appropriate books during the summer months and to briefly describe the books they read by completing a simple form. Prizes and certificates were awarded to successful students.

Contributing sponsors for the 2004 program include First Book, Target Stores, Scholastic, Inc., USA Football, National PTA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Communities in Schools, Inc., Verizon, Barnes and Noble, MeadWestvaco, Time, Inc. and Fisher-Price.

More information about the No Child Left Behind Act is available at www.ed.gov.

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