City Education Department Launches NYC Reads 365 Initiative

By Melissa A. Kay November 17, 2015

The City Education Department is bringing new books to all NYC schools as part of the NYC Reads 365 program. The effort will inspire children to read regularly.

Students across New York City will soon have greater access to age-appropriate reading material. Children’s and young adult books will be made available in schools by the City Education Department. The effort, NYC Reads 365, ensures each NYC school will receive approximately 40 books with bookmarks each year all of which are included on lists compiled by the department. All books for each grade level include fiction and non-fiction, graphic novels, history, and series collections, and will be updated every year.

NYC Reads 365 was developed in accordance with Mayor Bill de Blasio’s efforts to make sure all students will be able to read at grade level by the 2nd grade within the next decade. He has also promised that by 2018, all elementary schools will have in-school reading specialists.

School Chancellor, Carmen Fariña believes this effort from the City Education Department will, “ensure that we have every parent in New York City and every teacher reading every single day to their children.” Not only will the children be able to get these books in school, but the lists will help parents and students alike to select new books to read regularly.

The City Education Department intends to spend $540,000 for NYC Reads 365, with most of the cost going towards the purchase of new reading material. With only 30% of 3^rd graders currently passing the NY state reading tests, this new reading initiative will be a step in the direction for major improvement.

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