City of Readers
Recognition of poor reading skills as pervasive problem mobilizes community
San Bernardino Unified School District, San Bernardino County, CA
City of Readers was the vision of San Bernardino Unified Deputy Superintendent Dr. Judy D. White. At the inception, Dr. White visited each of the schools in the San Bernardino City Unified School District and discovered that the students who were not doing well had a common thread—they could not read well. Instead of implementing a stop-gap program, she went right to the source. She began with a steering committee of key members of the community. They supported the idea, and the rest is history!
City of Readers is a program guided by a community committee that involves educators, parents, businesses, the faith community, service organizations, law enforcement, city parks and recreation, the health community, and all existing reading programs. This community-driven movement encourages reading for fun and information at all grade levels. Preschoolers belong to "Club 2000" and work to master prekindergarten standards: writing their own name, counting to twenty, and recognizing alphabet letters and sounds. Nearing the other end of the spectrum, high school students participate in and help organize a variety of City of Readers activities by serving as Youth Ambassador volunteers.
The students and families of the San Bernardino City Unified School District are supported by the efforts of the City of Readers. For example, when higher district and state standards were instituted, non-profit organizations, churches, and families came to the City of Readers to see how a concerted effort could begin. A strategic plan for homework centers was created, and $250,000 from the City of San Bernardino and the district board of education was earmarked for centers that could document additional backing with dollar for dollar in-kind funds. A Reaching for Standards Rally was held at the Inland Center Mall, where approximately 4,000 people rallied for higher standards and children received free books.
City of Readers sponsors a large number of annual activities, including the Club 2000 Preschool Kick-off, Family Reading Festival, Grandmother of the Year, and Spelling Spectacular. Another yearly activity is the ASTERISK (Accelerating Success Through Employment, Responsibility, Inspiration, Skills, and Knowledge) Summer Youth Partnership. This five-week summer institute for high school students includes an employment fair, professional development training, and job placement in the community. Businesses in the community participate by sponsoring students to attend the institute, after which they receive paid work experience at those businesses for the summer.
Not only has City of Readers improved reading skills, it has also inspired students to stay in school. When district dropout rates declined, one of the main reasons cited was City of Readers. City of Readers has received local, state, and national recognition. The partnerships developed through this program have improved academic achievement and in the process strengthened the local community behind a program it looks to with pride.
For more information, contact Sheri Becar at sheri.becar@sbcusd.com or Dr. Judy White at judy.white@sbcusd.com.