LINC distributes 27,000 free books
LINC has distributed 27,000 books, one for every elementary school student in the Center, Fort Osage, Grandview, Hickman Mills, Independence, and Kansas City school districts, along with selected North Kansas City schools and two charter schools.
The goal is to provide every elementary school student with their own personal book to take home. The high-quality books are provided in partnership and with the support of First Book.
This is the third year that LINC has organized a major book distribution event. The two prior years, LINC obtained and distributed 10,000 books.
The 2014 effort expands on the success of the prior two years. Watch a video about LINC's 2013 book distribution in the KCPS.
Turn the Page KC Partnership
LINC is working closely with Turn the Page KC– a community initiative organized by Kansas City, Mo. Mayor Sly James– to make sure children are reading on grade level.
The focus on summer reading is a key component of Turn the Page KC, a part of the National Campaign for Grade Level Reading.
Reversing the "Summer Slide"
Kansas City area students participating in 2013 summer reading programs showed reading gains, reversing the expected trend of summer reading loss for low-income children.
Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight, Executive Director of the Kansas City Area Education Research Consortium, presented the results of the extensive 2013 summer data sharing project at the January LINC Commission meeting.
The results involved several school districts, public libraries and youth-serving organizations sharing data on reading assessment in the spring and fall of 2013 along with student reading activities during the 2013 summer.