Literacy Problems Affect A Great Number of Children Both Nationally And In Our Own Community

55% of Fourth Grade Students In Florida Are Not Proficient In Reading

55% of Grade 3 Students In Manatee County And 29% of Students In Sarasota County Are Not Proficient In Reading

In Middle Income Neighborhoods, the ratio of books to children is 12 books for every child

In Low Income Neighborhoods, the ratio of books to children is one book for 300 children

13% of All 17 Year Olds Are Functionally Illiterate

1.1 Million Students Drop Out of School Each Year, Costing This Country $250 Billion

The U.S. Department of Labor Estimates That Literacy Problems Cost U.S. Businesses In Excess of $225 Billion A Year In Lost Productivity

News & Events

• READING PALS:

We are excited that Books For Kids has been selected to develop the Reading Pals Program in Manatee County. Reading Pals, a statewide program designed by the Children’s Movement of Florida, is a volunteer-based Literacy initiative that provides mentors for students in Kindergarten who may need extra help, utilizing one on one support for 30 minutes a week for 25 weeks.

To register as a volunteer, please contact:
Ted Lindenberg
stlind88@aol.com
https://flbooksforkids.org

• Books For Kids has been selected by the Manatee County School District as one of two community programs allowed to come into classes. If you click on the Manatee School District Business Volunteers, Books For Kids will come up on the district website.

• Books For Kids was nominated for three county awards and was a finalist in one of those awards.

• The Fifth Annual Books For Kids Luncheon will take place on February 20, 2020.