Reading Incentive Programs

by Debbi Angiolieri and Linda Cheresnowski

Government or Organization-Sponsored Programs

 

Program Title	Cost	Description	For More Information
America Reads Challenge	cost of tutors; grant money may be available	A grassroots campaign to ensure all students can read independently by the end of grade three.   It encourages community involvement in developing independent readers and offers publications, research on the best and latest literacy practices, and other practical information. It, as well as America Counts, are initiatives through the U.S. Dept. of Education.	America Reads Challenge. U.S. Department of Education, 7th Floor 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-0107 202-401-8888  AmericaReads@ed.gov  http://www.ed.gov/inits/ americareads/index.html
Books & Beyond	unknown	This California program, started in 1979, impacts over 2.5 million children and their families.  They have statistical evidence to back up the success of their program.  It is self-paced, encourages student and parental participation, and generally lasts from 4-6 months.  It is a non-profit corporation which receives its funding from a variety of sources.	Books and Beyond 309 N. Rios Avenue Solana Beach, CA 92075 619-755-3823 http://www.sbsd.k12.ca.us/ sbsd/specialprog/ BB/index.html
DEAR  (Drop Everything And Read)	none	This is a volunteer program that a school or class elects to follow.  They decide on so many minutes and a time, then drop everything and read.  Everyone in the school -- professionals, non-professionals, and students -- drop everything and read at this time.	none found
PARP (Parents As Reading Partners)	Varies depending upon what is included in the program	Sponsored by the New York State PTA, this program is designed to encourage students to read together with their parents for at least 15 minutes a day for at least 5 days a week, often for a set time period.  Librarians and schools often develop themes to go along with the program.  Some schools schedule author visits and other programs at the same time to increase interest and participation in the program.	New York State PTA NYS PTA One Wembley Square, Albany NY 12205  Tel:(518) 452-8808 http://www.watpa.org/nyspta/ new_york_state_pta_ site_index.htm
Pennsylvania Reader's Choice Awards	See Reader's Choice Awards	___	___
Read Across America	Varies depending upon what your school chooses to do to celebrate	Each March 2, students and schools nationwide are encouraged to participate in celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday.  Schools choose to celebrate in many ways including having guest readers, serving green eggs and ham for breakfast, distributing Seuss buttons, and much more.	National Education Assn. http://www.nea.org/readacross/
Read-In		Cannot locate information
Reader's Choice Awards  (PA only)	Cost of books from the Master List	This Pennsylvania program is designed to honor superb authors as well as allow children to participate in the process of selecting them.   During the fall, students must read at least three of the books on the Master List, which is selected by a group of librarians.   In the spring, students may then vote for their favorite books.  The winning authors receive their awards at the PSLA Annual Conference in the spring.	Pennsylvania School Librarians' Assn http://www.psla.org/ grantsawards/pyrca.html
RIF (Reading Is Fundamental)	Cost of books unless grants or other funding sources are located	This program focuses on needy children from birth to age eleven and strives to provide them with books and other literacy resources.   Certain book suppliers may provide large discounts to purchase RIF books, which are books children receive free of charge to keep.  The program has other components, as well, and relies on volunteers, teachers, and librarians for support.  Founded in 1966, this program has served over 3.5 million children.	Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) http://www.rif.org/index.htm 1835 Connecticut Ave. Suite 400 Washington DC 20009 1-877-RIF-READ
SSR (Sustained Silent Reading)	N/A	Time is provided in school to read silently.  It is scheduled into the school week on a regular basis.	Seattle Schools on SSR Website http://sea-css.ssd.k12.wa.us/ read/ssrmain.htm
Success For All	unknown	This is not a reading incentive program, but an intensive reading instruction program.  It is primarily funded through Title I for at-risk students.	http://aft.org/edissues/ whatworks/six/sfa/index.htm