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SALT LAKE CITY — KSL's Read Today program is all about helping kids read at their grade level and enjoy reading too. Now this initiative is getting national recognition. The National Association of Broadcasters Educational Foundation has awarded KSL with the Service to America award for raising awareness and action for literacy.
Literacy landings like these have become a trademark celebration for the reading initiative. But it's the few thousand tutors and their hard working students who are moving the needle.
In the last year, the initiative brought more than 2,000 students up to grade level in their reading in more than 90 Utah schools. None of them started the year at that level. A small army of Read Today volunteers donated $960,000 worth of tutoring as they read every week with struggling students.
Reading is the greatest predictor of child success in life. and if a child isn't reading at grade level by third grade, they're going to have a hard time catching up the rest of their life.
–Lizzy Johnson
KSL helped throw a party in Ogden to celebrate the fact that four of Utah's lowest scoring schools there moved off that list. All were Read Today schools.
Right now, almost 3,700 Utah students from Logan to St. George are getting help.
"Reading is the greatest predictor of child success in life. and if a child isn't reading at grade level by third grade, they're going to have a hard time catching up the rest of their life," said Lizzy Johnson from Read Today.
In a statement, the National Association of Broadcasters said "KSL has made great strides in ensuring elementary students read at grade level. KSL's mission has already made a tremendous impact in the state."
