Chancellor Carranza Announces Summer Reading Book Giveaway for 3-K And Pre-K Families
All 3-K and Pre-K families will receive three free books to support summer learning, and have access to 6,000 books online
NEW YORK — Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza today announced that all families of children enrolled in 3-K for All and Pre-K for All will receive three free, developmentally-appropriate books for summer reading. As part of a larger set of summer reading resources for students stepping up from 3-K through 2nd grade, New York City families will have free access to more than 6,000 age-appropriate titles in a digital library this summer, including Spanish titles, as well as age-appropriate news articles.
The Chancellor made the announcement at a 3-K for All Stepping Up ceremony at P.S. 277 in the Bronx, celebrating a successful first year of 3-K for All.
“3-K and Pre-K for All are the foundation of our students’ long-term academic success, and our investment in literacy begins during this crucial time in our students’ lives,” said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “These new summer reading books will help foster a love of reading in our youngest students, and give families an opportunity to read and learn together.”
“New York City’s investment in 3-K and Pre-K is the single biggest thing we can do to change the future of our children, our City, and our nation,” said Deputy Mayor Phil Thompson. “Congratulations to our historic 3-K Class of 2018, the first in the City’s history. I encourage them and their families to continue their learning this summer with these new summer reading books and digital library, and with our parks, libraries, museums, and all the great learning opportunities the City has to offer.”
Approximately 200,000 hard-copy books are being distributed to over 70,000 families with children in 3-K, Pre-K, and preschool special education programs. The selections are: The Feeling Book, Be Who You Are, and The Family Book by Todd Parr; these books help children and families continue learning together about how to identify and manage their emotions. The books, which families will receive by the end of the school year and come with a letter to families on the importance of summer learning as well as summer learning tips, encourage families to read together and help their children build on what they’ve learned in 3-K and Pre-K throughout the summer.
Families will also receive free access to the myON Digital Library by Renaissance, which contains over 6,000 books, including Spanish titles, through September 30. The digital library also provides students and families with supports including read-aloud audio, a highlighting feature, a zoom feature, and a dictionary. Families with children of all ages can access the digital library through a single login for each age range, at any time, and on any web-enabled device. Information on how to access the myON library will be shared with families through their schools, as well as on the DOE’s website and social media.
In addition, the DOE’s Division of Early Childhood Education will launch a set of family tip sheets and posters with easy ways to talk, play, and read with your child to build a lifelong love of learning. The resources will be available through community-based early education centers and other community partners, and on the DOE’s website and social media. The total cost of the initiative is $1.5 million.
Reading aloud with a child builds their imagination, helps them learn about the world around them, and introduces them to new words. Throughout their time in 3-K and Pre-K, children learn to understand and manage their feelings at school and at home.
“As a City, we’re strengthening birth-to-eight education with our investments in free, full-day, high-quality 3-K and Pre-K and by ensuring that all children are reading on grade level by the end of 2nd grade,” said Deputy Chancellor Josh Wallack. “These books will help our students build on what they’ve learned in 3-K and Pre-K and come back to school in September ready to learn.”
The book distribution is aligned with the City’s Universal Literacy initiative, a key part of the Mayor and Chancellor’s Equity and Excellence for All agenda along with 3-K for All and Pre-K for All. The initiative aims to strengthen early literacy instruction across New York City schools. Through Universal Literacy, schools receive support from a reading coach, who works with kindergarten through 2nd grade teachers to ensure students are reading on grade level by the end of 2nd grade. Next year, we will expand reading coaches and support to all district elementary schools across all 32 community school districts.
Together, the Equity and Excellence for All initiatives are building a pathway to success in college and careers for all students. Our students are starting school earlier, with free, full-day, high-quality education for three-year-olds and four-year-olds through 3-K for All and Pre-K for All; and our schools are strengthening foundational skills and instruction earlier, with Universal Literacy and Algebra for All. Our schools are also offering students more challenging, hands-on, college and career-aligned coursework, as Computer Science for All brings 21st-century computer science instruction to every school, and AP for All works to give all high school students access to at least five Advanced Placement courses. Along the way, our schools are providing students and families additional support through College Access for All, Single Shepherd, and investment in Community Schools. Efforts to create more diverse and inclusive classrooms are central to this pathway.
Contact: Chancellor’s Press Office (212) 374-5141