Los Angeles Unified’s New Contest Boosts Leisure Reading Among Students

Los Angeles Unified’s New Contest Boosts

Leisure Reading Among Students

75th Street Elementary Finishes First in Districtwide Program

Los Angeles, CA (June 10, 2024) – Scholars from 75th Street Elementary emerged as the champions in a Los Angeles Unified literacy campaign, setting a remarkable example of dedication and a love for reading.

The “Read to Lead Reading Streak Challenge” has become a powerful tool for improving literacy rates. Introduced earlier this year, the program has helped students develop their reading habits, while empowering them to set their personal and classroom reading goals.

The collective effort throughout Los Angeles Unified School was impressive. From January 1 to May 20, students read 2.96 million minutes. In a more concentrated period from March 11 through May 4, they read 1.8 million minutes.

“In an age where it is tempting to spend more time with computer screens than books, congratulations to our remarkable students at 75th Street Elementary on their commitment to reading,” Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said. “Their dedication to literacy enriches their minds and continues to inspire all of us across Los Angeles Unified. I hope that every student, in their book of life, continues turning the pages of success.”

The campaign’s success coincided with a new study from the National Endowment for the Arts, which cautioned about the potential decline in student reading as a leisure activity across the U.S. But Los Angeles Unified remains committed to creating lifelong learners and fostering a love of reading among students. 

“Congratulations to 75^th St. Elementary School for their incredible win in the ‘Read to Lead Reading Streak Challenge!’” Los Angeles Board of Education Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said. “This victory highlights our commitment to fostering a love of reading, giving our students the opportunity to unlock their full potential through engaging reading activities today and leading the world tomorrow. Go Tigers!”

Overall, students at 75th Street spent more than 110,000 minutes reading throughout the contest. The typical student checked out 14 books, using the Sora app, a digital library that allows students access to a wide range of books and tracks their reading progress.

“Reading opens the door to a world of endless possibilities and empowers us to explore, dream and grow,” said Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Dr. Karla Estrada. “The commitment shown by our students at 75^th Street Elementary, and across Los Angeles Unified, in the ‘Read to Lead Reading Streak Challenge is a testament to the transformative power of literacy.

“As we celebrate their remarkable achievements,” Dr. Estrada added, “we renew our pledge to foster a love of reading, knowing that each page turned is a step toward a brighter, more informed future for all.”

Chief Academic Officer Dr. Frances Baez agreed. “We are thrilled to see enthusiastic participation in this year’s reading competition. “Congratulations to 75th Street, the top-winning school in the contest. I’m excited that our students eagerly embraced the many joys of reading through our digital library and checked out books from different genres to transport them into a new world of possibilities.

“We want to instill a love of learning and building lifelong reading habits,” Dr. Baez continued. “It is inspiring to watch students immerse themselves in books and develop critical thinking skills that will benefit them for a lifetime.”

For the most up-to-date information, please follow Los Angeles Unified on Twitter/X at @laschools and @lausdsup, Instagram at @laschools and @lausdsup and Facebook at @laschools and @AlbertoMCarvalho1.

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