MEDIA RELEASE
City of Delray Beach Chosen to Showcase Third Grade Level Reading Initiative
at National League of Cities Conference
November 28, 2012: The City of Delray Beach's Campaign for Grade Level Reading is being recognized by the National League of Cities (NLC) as a model program at the Congress of Cities and Exposition 2012 City Showcase, held in Boston from November 28th - December 1st. This program demonstrates innovative and collaborative approaches in engaging our community to better support low-income children, from birth through third grade, to learn to read. The City's Campaign for Grade Level Reading is one of only 27 municipal programs selected for the NLC's 2012 City Showcase celebrating City achievements.
The City's program, which is part of a national campaign to promote grade level reading by the third grade, was created through the understanding that our local schools alone cannot address all of the problems that keep our children from learning to read. As a result, the City partnered with a coalition of community, civic and business leaders, non-profit agencies, educators and City representatives who believed in this important issue and committed to participating in the development and implementation of a new reading initiative that will benefit our local children and our community. In Delray Beach, the focus for the third grade level reading initiative is based on three (3) key strategies
. Ensuring children arrive in kindergarten prepared to succeed
. Improving attendance levels
. Increasing educational opportunities during the summer months
"The NLC City Showcase is truly a celebration of innovation and collaboration in our nation's cities and towns," said Ted Ellis, NLC President and Mayor of Bluffton, IN. "These programs represent municipal government at its best, demonstrating the success that can occur when creative minds partner to solve a problem or fill a need within a community. NLC is proud to recognize the 21 cities and towns selected for this year's showcase."
"We in Delray Beach recognize that great schools make great communities," said Lula Butler, Director of Community Improvement for the City of Delray Beach. "Through our third-grade level reading initiative we are confident we can help to ensure that more and more of our students are prepared for a bright future ahead."
For more information on the City's Campaign for Grade Level Reading program, contact Janet Meeks, Education Coordinator for the City of Delray Beach, at (561) 243-7231 or E-mail meeksj@mydelraybeach.com.
About the National League of Cities
The National League of Cities is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans. For more information on this year's NLC City Showcase, visit: http://www.nlc.org/build-skills-and-networks/resources/city-showcase.
Contact:
City of Delray Beach
Public Information Office
(561) 243-7190
PIO@mydelraybeach.com
City Commission:
Nelson S. "Woodie" McDuffie, Mayor
Thomas Carney, Vice-Mayor
Adam Frankel, Deputy Vice-Mayor
Angeleta Gray, Commissioner
Al Jacquet, Commissioner