Pre K-Gr. 5 Providence students to be given a backpack with 10 books for summer reading

The Providence Public School District (PPSD) held a media event at the Asa Messer Elementary School, to help kick-start PPSD summer reading efforts. At the event, 80 second and third grade students participated in activities and received books.

This event’s book distribution is a culmination of a larger Pre- K through grade 5 District-wide literacy first program that will be providing over 90,000 age-appropriate books to students to take home and add to their home libraries just in time for summer reading. 

Participating in the announcement were:

• Rhode Island Department of Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green 
• Providence Public School District Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez, Ed.D 
• Asa Messer Elementary School Principal Cassandra Henderson
• Special guest visit from Clifford the Big Red Dog™

“To get our students back on track post-pandemic, learning needs to happen year-round. This initiative is designed to help our children gain the necessary literacy skills to flourish in and out of school, while simultaneously fostering an environment in which all students in the Providence Public School District have a love and passion for reading,” explained Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green and PPSD Superintendent Javier Montañez in a letter to families.

“We are putting literacy first with a mission to flood our district with books to support students and families in our community,” said PPSD Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools Patricia Royal. “As a literacy-first district, we understand the importance of reading and the positive impact it can have on a child’s life. Our goal is to build a community where reading is not only encouraged, but celebrated.”

“Scholastic is proud to work with Providence Public Schools to help ensure students have access to books to help keep their reading skills sharp over the summer,” said Scholastic Books Northeast Regional Director of Sales Michelle Parker. “As the research shows, access to books diminishes for students over the summer, making this work more important than ever.”

Research shows that one measure that consistently and significantly correlates with reading scores is the number of books in the home. In the coming two weeks, the Providence Public School District will distribute 10 books and a Providence Schools backpack to all Pre K-5 students. According to the Scholastic Teacher and Principal School Report, the vast majority (96%) of teachers, principals and school librarians say that providing year-round access to books at home is important to enhancing student achievement.