Harding seeking funds for reading program

Staff report

Youngstown

Harding Elementary School’s Parent-Teacher Organization will sponsor a summer-reading program.

Due to a limited budget, the PTO is looking for community organizations to support the program. Many Harding students aren’t able to buy books. The summer-reading program allows students to have access to books any time during the summer break.

The PTO is trying to combat the “summer slide,” when students who don’t read over the summer may lose up to two months of what they learned in school. The slide occurs among low-income students and may result in an achievement gap.

Last school year, the PTO raised more than $1,700 from local organizations within two months to allow 70 Harding students to join the summer-reading program. The program wouldn’t have been possible without that help.

This year, the PTO wants to allow all 465 students the opportunity to take home a summer-reading pack. Each pack costs about $20, which includes a book bag and four books appropriate to each student’s grade level.

To reach that goal, the organization must raise $9,300.

To help, make checks payable to Harding Elementary PTO and send to the school at 1903 Cordova Ave., Youngstown, OH 44504, by Monday. Participants are asked to include the name of the individual, organization, address and phone number as well as indicate if they are making a monetary donation or if they want to sponsor a summer take-home reading pack.