According to Kathy Cornish, Warren Middle School Principal, “Our goal is for all students to be prepared for high school and beyond. Reading is the most important key to success. We are excited to be a R.I.S.E school and have the opportunity to build a culture of reading and to promote the importance of reading in our community .”
A strong foundation in reading greatly enhances a student’s success in college, career and community engagement. To support educators and students and to improve the state’s reading achievement levels, Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Department of Education launched R.I.S.E. Arkansas statewide in January. The initiative has three main goals:
· Increase the number of students in grades three through eight who meet the ACT Aspire reading readiness benchmark by 10
percent within three years;
· Rise above the bottom third in state comparisons within five years on the fourth-grade NAEP reading assessment.
· Increase the number of graduates meeting the ACT reading readiness benchmark by 10 percent within five years.
At Warren Middle School we have partnered with the Bradley County Medical Center, Bradley County Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club of Warren, Rotary Club of Warren, Warren YMCA, and the Warren Branch Library to host community wide reading events, book drives, and to educate parents about the importance of reading and increasing access to books in the home.
Everyone plays a part in building a culture of reading and is encouraged to post pictures to social media using #RISEArkansas.
For more information about the initiative, contact Warren Middle School or visit the R.I.S.E. Arkansas webpage at http://www.arkansased.gov/divisions/learning-services/r.i.s.e.-arkansas.
