For the fifth year, Kentucky led the nation in Summer Reading pledges during the annual summer reading challenge sponsored by MetaMetrics. Each year, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) collaborates with the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) to encourage students to participate in the state’s Summer Reading Programs sponsored by public libraries.

Teachers, librarians and parents help children use Find a Book, KY to build personal reading lists and to pledge the number of books they plan to read during the summer months. Find a Book, KY uses the widely-adopted Lexile measure to match a reader with books that will provide the right level of challenge to support reading growth. School librarians and public librarians assist children and their parents as they make summer reading selections.

This year’s three top schools for the percentage of pledges to read during the summer are Farnsley Middle School in Jefferson County (Kelly Caso, librarian); Science Hill Independent School (Robyn Stephens, librarian) and Mason-Corinth Elementary in Grant County (Deana Chandler, librarian).

Farnsley Middle and Science Hill Independent are both previous winners of the annual summer reading initiative.

“Our school participates each year because I think it is very important to instill a love of reading in children,” said Science Hill’s Stephens. “Many of our classified staff even got involved this year. This is a great honor for our small school.”

“We develop a Summer Reading Program every year and this ties in nicely,” said Caso of Farnsley Middle. “Our students love the competition of it, and it is a great way to combat the ‘summer reading slide.’ I want my students to be inspired to read. Having them pledge to read books and follow through on those pledges opens so many doors for them.”

Visit KDE’s Summer Reading page for more information about Summer Reading Promotions in Kentucky.

MORE INFO …

Kelly.Caso@jefferson.kyschools.us
Robyn.Stephens@sciencehill.kyschools.us
Deana.Chandler@grant.kyschools.us