literacy

The Fort Myers community gathers at Night Market downtown to support improving reading scores across SWFL. Recent data shows third graders continue to fall behind since the pandemic.

Education

SWFL faces reading crisis: Proficiency falls below 50%

Gwendolyn Salata

Fewer than half of Southwest Florida third graders are currently reading at grade level as reading skills have declined across the state in recent years. Now the Collaboratory and other groups are making new efforts to improve reading proficiency.

Collier County Shewriff's Office deputies as well as a volunteer from Books for Collier Kids will take part in “Hot Summer Nights 2023” on July 20, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Mackle Park on Marco Island, and feature games, food, fun and distribute books to children attending the event.

Education

Nonprofit teams with Collier Sheriff on free book project

WGCU Staff

Books for Collier Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving children’s literacy, is partnering with the Collier County Sherriff’s Office to provide free books to children at an event hosted by CCSO.

“Without basic literacy skills, children are at greater risk for academic failure, delinquency, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, unemployment, low productivity and welfare dependency so partnering with Books for Collier Kids fits nicely with our promise to protect and serve our community,” said Sergeant Natalie Ashby – 3729, Diversity Outreach Coordinator, Community & Diversity Services Bureau, Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

Collier County nonprofit offering free books to combat summer slide

Tara Calligan

Books for Collier Kids and the Collier County Sheriff's Office continue to distribute books to children during events this July.

Helping Kids Read with 'Free Comic Book Day'

Matthew F Smith

Saturday, May 6 is Free Comic Book Day, and what started as an effort to bring new hobbyists into comic shops is increasingly being used to encourage…