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Youth Programs

Davis Foundation Literacy Initiative Wins National Recognition

Davis Foundation Literacy Initiative Wins National Recognition

Davis Foundation Literacy Initiative Wins National Recognition

Pupils from Edward P. Boland Elementary School line up at the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum at the Springfield Quadrangle, on a field trip during their first week of Talk/Read/Succeed’s Hasbro Summer Learning Program, part of the award-winning READ: Reading Success by Fourth Grade.

The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation’s ‘READ: Reading Success by Fourth Grade,’ which includes Springfield Housing Authority’s ‘Talk/Read/Succeed!’ program, has earned Springfield recognition as an All-America City by the National Civic League.

The communitywide campaign to promote strong literacy by fourth grade earned the designation from among more than 100 entries and 32 finalists. Fourteen were chosen, including Pittsfield, the only other Massachusetts communities lauded for early literacy efforts.

The prestigious award for the collaborative program was announced on July 2 at the National Civic League’s conference in Denver, Colo.

“This … is recognition of what the entire Springfield community knows is critical for the success of all our children – the ability to read proficiently by the end of third grade,” said John H. Davis of the Springfield-based Davis Foundation.

SHA Executive Director William H. Abrashkin congratulated READ organizers and praised the program, which has already reaped impressive results.

“The designation of Springfield as an All-America City is an honor accorded to only 14 cities in the entire country,” Abrashkin noted. “It recognizes Springfields broad-based community efforts, spearheaded by the Davis Foundation, with a goal that 80% of our children will be reading at grade level by the time they enter fourth grade.”

Davis Foundation Literacy Initiative Wins National Recognition

Kissandra Hernandez, 8, and Lwrdez Rosario, 7, pause for a smile at the Springfield Science Museum during the T/R/S! summer learning field trip.

“If children learn to read early in life they will be able to read to learn as they progress in their education. Without early reading skills large numbers of children are left behind without an opportunity for a good education and employment that helps them, their families, and the community. This is a major effort to “break the cycle” and open opportunities for these children. The Springfield Housing Authority is deeply committed to this effort.”

With more than a dozen sponsors from the public and private sector, Springfield’s READ: Reading Success by Fourth Grade program features everything from family and pre-school reading support to advanced training for elementary school teachers.

The goal of Springfield’s campaign is for 80 percent of third graders to be reading at a proficient level on MCAS exams by 2016.

The program has already shown success. When launched four years ago, just 33 percent of third graders were reading at proficient levels here; the figure increased to 40 percent for 2011.

There are many facets and a multitude of agencies, government entities and groups involved in the effort. One of them is Talk/Read/Succeed!, a program funded primarily by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation that marshals a broad-based coalition to bring lasting and positive changes for SHA families and the Springfield community.

Davis Foundation Literacy Initiative Wins National Recognition

Boland paraprofessional Kathy Kazalis reads a story book to two incoming kindergartners at the Springfield Science Museum, during their field trip as part of the T/R/S! summer learning program.

T/R/S! unites two SHA developments, John L. Sullivan Apartments and Robinson Gardens Apartments. Families receive services and assistance, with the primary goal of boosting literacy so that children are on-level by the end of grade three. Partnering are the Edward Boland and Hiram Dorman elementary schools, which are feeder schools for Sullivan and Robinson. There are also nearly two dozen local agencies involved, including the Springfield Education Association, United Way of Pioneer Valley and the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County.

This spring, T/R/S! garnered ‘Outstanding Agency Awards’ from The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials as well as from New England and Massachusetts branches of NAHRO. The program has also been entered in the National Awards of Excellence Competition.

Abrashkin said it is hoped that T/R/S! will continue to grow and reach out to more children in the city. T/R/S! is now running its second summer literacy program at Boland and Dorman.

“This is a “full court press” of parent engagement, parent education, children education, and family self-sufficiency to cut through the cycle of disadvantage and provide the skills that families need for their children to be successful learners,” he said. “This work is enormously cost-effective. For example, the SHA serves approximately 150 families per year for the amount that it costs to keep a small handful of people in prison. But funding is still needed to carry on the work, and we hope that designation of Springfield as an All-America City for its reading programs, and recognition of the SHA as a partner in that work, will be helpful as the SHA and its partners seeks funding to continue this vital work.”

4280 days ago / Youth Programs
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