Item: 2013 grant recipients

Organization: Albert Lea Area Schools

Project: Read Across Albert Lea

Report: Thanks to the generous support of the Freeborn County Communities Foundation, Albert Lea Area Schools’ project Read Across Albert Lea will have the resources necessary to create even more access to books for many of our low-income families and at risk students.

Research continues to support the need for reading at least 20 minutes a day to sustain and enhance achievement of all students. In order for the reading time to be effective, students must have access to books at their reading level. Through the financial support of the Freeborn County Communities Foundation, we are able to purchase books at appropriate reading levels to be given to K-5 students to support the goal of reading 20 minutes each day at home. Currently, we are in the midst of securing the best pricing from book vendors with the goal of having books in buildings by the end of the month.

Each building will host a family literacy event two times a year inviting all families to their school. The goal of these events is to educate parents/guardians on the importance of children reading and provide resources and strategies to help parents/guardians promote their child’s learning at home. Books purchased with funds from the foundation would also be given away at these events. Principals and intervention teachers are planning to combine their literacy event this year with an existing parent function that historically has been very well attended as way to access as many parents as possible. Two buildings will hold their first event later this month and the initial purchase of books with the foundation’s funds will be utilized.

As we continue our efforts to accelerate learning for our at-risk students, we will track their progress on a regular basis. The more students we are able to move toward grade-level standards, the greater success they will have in school and in our community. Becoming a proficient reader is essential to success in school and life.