In Chicago this summer, 6,700 struggling readers in K-2 will start their mornings with read-alouds with their parents, using public library books. Later in the day, they will move on to intensive literacy instruction at 150 of the district’s public schools. At the end of each week, pupils with good attendance will be given a book to keep. The K-2 Summer of Reading program is just one of many that the country’s third-largest school district is implementing in its enhanced summer initiatives known collectively as UpGrade. Approximately 95,000 students overall will be served in all of Chicago’s summer programs.
