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Early reading proficiency is the single most important factor in the long term success of students, and is the preeminent goal of the Vista Unified School District (VUSD). The project targets are all elementary schools in VUSD (covering both Vista and parts of Oceanside) which are designated as Title I schools and have low school-wide reading proficiency scores. First grade students will be the beneficiaries of this program as ultimate recipients of a book of their own after a classroom reading session conducted by local Rotarians, as well as Interact and Rotaract (Cal State San Marcos) club members.
Developing interest and competence in reading must start at an early age and VUSD enrolls an unusually high proportion of English as a Second Language students as well as students from families living below the poverty level. This necessitates intensive reading intervention programs at early grade levels. This grant allows our club to support these intervention efforts through classroom reading and individual ownership of books. The grant, taking advantage of discounted availability of books, enables us to serve a minimum of 1,500 first grade students.
Our program will involve local Rotarians, including Interactors and Rotaractors, reading and distributing books to all students in the selected classrooms. For many of these students, it is either the first book they have owned themselves or one of very few books in their home. Target dates for project reading and distribution of books are September 2016 through December 2016. We have offered this program the past four years and because of the success of our previous efforts, the teachers and administrators of the district are totally committed to supporting us to ensure project success. Both the VUSD Superintendent and the President of the Vista Teachers Association are members of our club and participate in project implementation.
Attached are two pictures from previous project years. The pictures tell the story better than any written narrative.
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