District 54 will help to break world record for reading

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014, School District 54 will join Jumpstart's Read for the Record, a national campaign designed to break the world record for the largest shared reading experience ever, while also working to break the cycle of illiteracy.

All 44 early childhood classes and 70 kindergarten classes across District 54 will participate by having their teachers or other guests read the children's book Bunny Cakes by author and illustrator, Rosemary Wells.

"The event has been a huge success and reinforces the District 54 board goal of students reading at grade level upon entering third grade by emphasizing the importance of early literacy," Literacy Director Julie Gorvett said.

The 2014 campaign is designed to encourage young people, their families and educators to read. The day's activities are designed to generate public awareness about the importance of early literacy for long-term academic achievement.

In 2013, more than 2.4 million children and adults participated in Jumpstart's Read for the Record. Since the campaign's inception in 2006, Jumpstart has raised more than $8.6 million for early education programs across the country. Learn more about this campaign by visiting http://www.jstart.org/campaigns/read-record.