Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown's annual Reading Rules! Kid's Summer Reading Challenge kicks off this Thursday. Since the inception of the challenge in 2001, over 28,000 kids have participated in the event.
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"We have a goal within our strategic plan, that by the end of third grade, the year of 2025, every single one of our third graders will leave third grade reading on grade level. That's a big goal. It is programs like this, that I know will help us achieve that goal," said Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams.
During the summer, the children must read five books and write summaries about what they read. If they are successful in completing the challenge, the champions will then be rewarded with a certificate, a breakfast and a party at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.
"Every one of our students that participate in summer camp, many of them with the [Police Athletic League] are enrolled in the mayor's Summer Reading Challenge. That's 1400 students each year," said David Rust, CEO of Say Yes! Buffalo. "Last year, over 88% of them completed their challenge and had a wonderful celebration in August. These are real returns. When students participate in summer camps and the mayor's Summer Reading Challenge, they come back to school in the fall ready to read at higher grade levels, which will ultimately lead them to good jobs and a good careers for them. It's an amazing opportunity."
"The American Education Research Journal says that the average student loses about 17 to 34% of the previous year's learning gains over summer break. When students experience learning loss, it has a serious impact on their academic performance in the new school year," adds Nikita Kemp, Executive Director for Buffalo's Police Athletic League. "We are still recovering from the effects of COVID-19, so summer reading is critical not only for helping kids maintain learning while school is out, but also for fostering social emotional development, discovering the joy of stories and using their imagination away from tablets and electronic devices and elevating the importance of lifelong learning."