(FRANKFORT, Ky.) -- Unite to Read, a statewide literacy project designed by members of Kentucky's Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs), is set to be implemented in schools across the state in the 2004-05 school year.
The project was unveiled today at a news conference held in conjunction with a meeting of state CTSO officers in Louisville.
Unite to Read is designed to promote literacy and lifelong reading among schoolchildren in the state. Project partners include the Kentucky Department of Education's Division of Career and Technical Education, the Department for Technical Education, the Future Educators of America (FEA), Kentucky's Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP) and nearly 50,000 middle and high school CTSO members, who will lead the project in their respective schools.
The project will dovetail with the KET/PBS Ready to Learn Program and the
PBS Kids -- Share a Story initiative. Ready to Learn is a media and family literacy
service that distributes high-quality books through free workshops. The Share a
Story initiative is a national literacy campaign that inspires adults to help children
develop language and literacy skills through daily activities such as reading, drawing,
storytelling, rhyming and singing. First Lady Laura Bush serves as honorary national
chair of the campaign.
Mary Alice Birdwhistell, a student at Anderson County High School and
president of the Kentucky Association of Family, Career and Community Leaders
of America (FCCLA), said that Unite to Read marks the first time that CTSOs, FEA
and STLP members have joined together in a statewide project.
"Each of the participating organizations is an integral part of the middle and
high school curriculum," she said. "As high school students, each of us understands
the importance of being able to read at a high level and are pleased to be working
together to promote literacy and lifelong learning."
Unite to Read is focused on literacy awareness from the primary grades
through middle and high school. CTSO students will implement projects at the various
grade levels:
- Primary (3rd grade) -- Participating schools will conduct a Share a Story night during the week of October 18-22. Children and parents from local elementary schools will be invited, and activities will demonstrate interdisciplinary ways of reading a book. The program will emphasize the importance of involving schools, families and communities to address literacy issues.
- Middle and High School -- A Unite to Read Certificate Program will encourage students to read books during the school year by providing gold, silver or bronze seal certificates tied to the number of books read. CTSOs, FEA and STLP will sponsor events throughout the school year to promote reading, and students will be recognized in local awards programs.
CTSOs provide a unique program of career and leadership development, motivation and recognition exclusively for middle/junior high and secondary students enrolled in career and technical programs.
CTSOs include DECA, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), FFA , Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), SKILLS USA-VICA and Technology Student Association (TSA).
STLP, established in 1994, is a project-based learning program that empowers students in all grade levels to use technology in and out of the classroom. The organization has approximately 5,000 members statewide.
FEA, with nearly 2,000 members statewide, is designed to encourage talented high school students to consider education related professions by providing opportunities to assume leadership roles in a classroom environment. Most Kentucky FEA chapters are affiliated with Phi Delta Kappa, the national professional fraternity in education; however, there are several independent chapters.
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