Duval County schools start new reading initiative

Happy Birthday, Graduate! Superintendent Vitti's new push toward literacy

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Children from high-income families are exposed to 30 million more words than children from families on welfare, statistics show.

Although the Duval County School Board can't control the income of families, it is trying to help new parents who may struggle with teaching their child how to read before they enter school.

Duval County School Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti has announced a literacy initiative on National Read Across America Day to help make a difference. 

The early childhood initiative, called "Happy Birthday, Graduate!," was developed to improve early learning and school readiness rates among children in at-risk communities.

The school board plans to hand out about 5,000 books and backpacks to new parents to help get their kids ready for school.

"It's going directly to homes of parents, 5000 parents, over the next two years who are, statistically speaking, at risk. They are younger (and) growing up in poverty," said Vitti.

To fully implement the initiative, Vitti says school board partners will take book bags full of books and information on how to promote reading to students' homes and sit down with parents to talk about how to get kids excited about picking up a book.

Vitti said the idea is about prevention.

"We have to intervene sooner.  And although people say, "Why are you getting in the business of engaging parents right after birth?' the reality is it benefits us as a school district and a greater community," said Vitti.

Robert Gresham, principal at R.V. Daniels Elementary School, stands behind the plan.

"We cannot deal with the situation they happen to be born in, but once we receive them, it is our responsibility to make sure we provide them every opportunity for them to be successful," said Gresham.

The early childhood initiative will cost $40,000, and data will be taken later to see if it made a difference in literacy levels at local schools.