GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – Leaders at the University of Florida’s Lastinger Center for Learning said a statewide at-home literacy program is making strides in improving reading skills among young students.
Leaders said the program delivers free, high-quality books by mail each month during the school year to eligible VPK through 5th-grade students.
Today, leaders announced that more than 10 million books have been shipped across the state to over 460,000 students since 2021.
This academic year, more than 300,000 Florida students have received a book in the program’s effort to foster a love of reading and improve literacy outcomes for children.
In Gainesville, more than 3,800 students are enrolled.
The program offers books in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and braille, allowing students and parents to choose titles based on their interests.
This milestone is significant given that nearly a million children in Florida are reading below grade level, leaders said.
Families can learn more and apply for the books from the 2024-2025 school year by June 22 at this link.
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