Rising 1st-3rd Graders at HCS to receive Six Free books, Amounting 110,000+ Total
Posted on 06/15/2021
Rising 1st-3rd Graders at HCS to receive Six Free books, Amounting 110,000+ TotalChattanooga, Tenn. (Jun. 15, 2021) – The Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF), in collaboration with Scholastic, announced its 2nd Annual Summer K-3 Book Delivery Program at East Brainerd Elementary today that delivers 500,000 books directly to Tennessee students and teachers at home. All rising first through third-graders at Hamilton County Schools will receive six free books, over 110,000+ total, as part of GELF’s “Stop the Slide!” campaign to encourage learning through the summer.

“We’re grateful for our partnership with the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation as we look to accelerate learning opportunities for students this summer,” said Dr. Bryan Johnson. “Literacy is much more than just reading; it’s understanding what you’re reading and being able to articulate that understanding, which is a critical skill across all subject areas.”

GELF President James Pond, along with Chris Hedrick, Senior Vice President of Sales of Scholastic Education Solutions, visited East Brainerd Elementary School to officially kick off the “Stop the Slide!” campaign and announce the K-3 Book Delivery program at schools that will benefit. The books will be delivered directly to homes at no cost to families or the school district.

“Our mission to strengthen literacy in Tennessee has never been more meaningful, and collaborative partnerships aligned with our shared vision have never been more valuable,” said James Pond of GELF. “Through this program, we will equip thousands of Tennessee children with books and innovative literacy tools that encourage lifelong learning for a brighter future. But, it’s more than books. It’s the future of Tennessee.”

Hamilton County Schools has prioritized literacy work in its five-year strategic plan, Future Ready 2023, with the following focus performance target: At least half of all third-grade students will be on-track or mastered as measured by the TNReady English Language Arts assessment.

“Findings from the Scholastic Teacher & Principal School Report show that 96% of educators agree that providing year-round access to books at home is important to enhancing student achievement. Books can also be a powerful source of social-emotional support to help kids find a sense of belonging and comfort during a challenging time or spark curiosity through new adventures and characters,” said Chris Hedrick, Senior Vice President of Sales Scholastic Education Solutions.

The State of Tennessee underwrites the K-3 Book Delivery program with crucial support from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation and additional support from Dollar General Literacy Foundation and Amazon.

Visit https://governorsfoundation.org/ for more information about GELF.