By the time kids reach the third grade in the public schools of Washington D.C. less than half are reading at grade level! I repeat, less then half.
We know the equation pretty well and we know that the long term consequences lean severe.
Low literacy = higher chance of unemployment and incarceration.
Ward 6 DC Councilmember Charles Allen has introduced legislation that would send a book a month to all 41,000 children under 5 that live in the district.
“We have households in the District that have hundreds of books and households where the only book in the house may be the phone book” says Allen.
Drawing inspiration for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Allen hopes his ‘Books from Birth’ plan will begin leveling the literacy playing field.
The legislation calls for D.C. Public Library to appoint a committee that will recommend books for the program. Books will be mailed with information about library programs in each child’s neighborhood and, just as important, information on literacy programs targeted at parents.
Allen estimates the cost would be about $30 per child a year to implement.
A book-of-the-month club for infants and toddlers aims to narrow the achievement gap – Greater Greater Washington.
‘Books from Birth’ plan aims to bridge word gap among District children – Washington Post
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Previously on Book Patrol:
The Book Cops of Delaware