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This project is submitted as a large collaborative project involving three Clubs, the Rotary Clubs of Sedona and the Village Satellite, the Rotary Club of the Sedona Red Rocks, the Rotary Club of the Verde Valley..
Language and literacy skills of children living in the Verde Valley area of AZ are significantly behind children from other states. Only 39% of children can pass the 3rd grade state literacy test (AZMerit). Poverty levels are high with 67% of school children qualifying for free or reduced lunch. For about 30%, English is their second language. Affordable housing, medical care and childcare are critical issues. Arizona ranks 48th in the country for early childhood education. Children learn through play and verbal interaction with responsive encouraging caregivers. Early exposure to interactive talking, singing and reading makes a lifelong difference in learning.
80% of brain architecture is established by age 5 years. Neural pathways that are not stimulated fail to develop and atrophy. The achievement gap is measurable at 18 months of age and significant by age 3 years. These are the same children most likely to struggle in school, need remedial help and drop out. Every dollar invested in early childhood education saves taxpayers up to $13 in future costs.
Dolly Parton's renown Imagination Library is a book program for children birth to five that inspires a love of books and reading. Kids receive a carefully selected new book in the mail every month with their name on it. They love getting mail and beg their parents to read to them. Busy parents have easy access to high quality books that they may not be able to afford or think to read. The program increases the time parents spend reading with their children and significantly improves kindergarten readiness for enrolled children. Recent studies show improved early literacy skills. Her foundation publishes and mails the books. Local sponsors pay for books and postage. Parents pay nothing.
The Rotary Club of Sedona brought the imagination Library to Sedona children in 2012. Thanks to a one year challenge grant of $25,000 from the Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona in July 2016 and a Rotary District matching grant of $3000, all Rotary Clubs in the Verde Valley (Sedona, Sedona Village Satellite, Verde Valley, Sedona Red Rocks) joined forces to expand the Imagination Library to all children living in the Verde Valley. Enrollment started at 400 in July 2016 and is now 1275 as on June 1, 2017. A new non-profit was formed called The Verde Valley Imagination Library (VVIL) with bylaws calling for at least half the board consisting of active Rotarians representing all participation clubs. The VVIL is completely volunteer run and has no facility overhead. The VVIL's three goals are to promote and enroll infants, toddlers and preschoolers in the Imagination Library program. The Second goal is to increase community awareness about parents' critical role as their child's first teacher. This will be achieved starting at the birth hospital and continue at community events that attract young families. Tips for parents are on the back flap of the books. The inclusiveness and popularity of this "children's book club" removes the stigma associated with targeting only underachieving or low income children. The third objective is to collaborate with community partners who work directly with parents who need coaching to improve their skills. Partners include community libraries, Healthy Families AZ Program, Parents as Teachers, Yavapai County Community Health, the Head Start Programs, WIC and Northern Arizona Healthcare to name a few. Subcommittees of the VVIL include non-board Rotarians that help us with fundraising, web design, advertising, legal needs and more. Two Interact clubs help us with enrolling children.
This is an ongoing project designed to improve early childhood literacy skills through early intervention. Ultimate results will be tracked using the statewide 3rd grade AZMerit reading test. We already have baseline scores for 2015 and 2016.
Addendum to Project Description (added after the project was signed)
Previously in district 5490
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