A Message from Dr. Holly Kreider

Central Elementary School in City Heights, San Diego.

I’ve spent the better part of two decades conducting research and documenting best practices in family engagement, first at the Harvard Family Research Project and now at Raising A Reader’s National Office.  Yet never have I seen a partnership quite as promising and unique as that between Raising A Reader and the Masons of California.  Here lies an opportunity with tremendous reach, impact, community engagement, and sustainability.

In the first year alone, the effort will bring high quality children’s books, parent training, and library connections to low-income children in 250 classrooms in the most under-resourced schools in the state.  And for years to come, local Masons can continue their commitment to supporting literacy programming in their local neighborhood schools, as well as share in the ultimate success of literate and academically thriving children.

An early win for this partnership comes from Central Elementary School in the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego, where 100% of the students live below the poverty line.  All eight classrooms at Central will begin implementation of Raising A Reader in early 2012, with the full support of the broader San Diego Unified School District (the second largest district in the state), and with a goal of expanding to several more schools in the neighborhood in Fall 2012.

For one journalist’s take on a kick-off event in San Diego, check out Bey Ling Sha's short piece on the Voice of San Diego.