America Reads: HISTORY

Former President Bill Clinton formally introduced the America Reads Challenge in the State of the Union Address in January 1997. It was an impassioned challenge issued at a pivotal time in our nation's history by a President who believed that America's prosperity and strength depended more than ever on quality education for all students. Research demonstrates that if students can't read well by the end of the third grade, their chances of success are significantly diminished, and they have a greater likelihood of dropping out or engaging in escalating delinquent behaviors. The America Reads Program was designed to actively engage students in a variety of activities to help build their reading skills. The challenge touched citizens from all walks of life and sparks collaborations among educators, parents, librarians, business people, seniors, college students and community and religious groups.

America Reads: TODAY

President George W. Bush has continued this effort by passing the 2001 act "No child left behind," which is a promise to raise standards for all children and to help all children meet these standards. President Bush is committed to supporting and promoting the very best teaching programs especially those that teach young people how to read.

To date many colleges and universities have joined America Reads by directing Federal Work-Study students to tutor children in reading. The C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University has many partnerships with community schools to foster the America Reads Program.