Since 1998, March 2 has been Read Across America Day, thanks to the National Education Association. In order to help students perform better on California STAR Testing Program assessments, the state will take things one step further with the establishment of Read Across California Month.
After students in California finish reading along with the rest of the country on March 2, they will take a pledge to continue reading 30 minutes for 30 days.
In 2009, roughly 54 percent of fourth-graders and 64 percent of eighth-graders who were tested scored at or above California’s basic reading level, according to the Nation’s Report Card. Unfortunately, these numbers are still below the averages for both grade levels across the country.
Furthermore, results from the 2010 California Standards Tests showed that 52 percent of students in grades two through eleven were considered to be proficient in English language arts.
However, supporters of Read Across California Month hope that this initiative will have a positive impact on the state’s literacy rate, while also fostering a greater interest in books among the state’s youth.
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