Through this program, students can access required and recreational reading materials. Because students are connected with topics they enjoy reading and learning about, they are more likely to take advantage of the books at their disposal. They can choose between e-books and audiobooks in their Sora student reading application. “Literacy definitely is our focus, and we wanted to make sure that students had the materials to be able to practice that skill,” Gant says.
Literacy’s Importance and the Interruption of Learning
Literacy is crucially important for students every year, but this year in particular brings concerns for children learning to read. In 2020, kindergarten enrollment dropped 16 percent on average in the United States, according to an NPR report. Meanwhile, a joint analysis by Chalkbeat and the Associated Press makes the claim that “a drop in kindergarten enrollment accounts for 30 percent of the total reduction across the 33 states.”
The students being held back could face significant disadvantages compared with their academically engaged peers. Young learners who aren’t enrolled in classes miss the opportunity to develop foundational reading skills. In fact, students who aren’t reading at grade level in third grade are more likely to drop out of school later, according to a long-term study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.