Laura Bush, Governor Jeb Bush And First Lady Columba Bush

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: ELIZABETH HIRST
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2002
(850) 488-5394

LAURA BUSH, GOVERNOR JEB BUSH AND FIRST LADY COLUMBA BUSH UNVEIL "I'M A READER!" KIT
~~Kits will be distributed to mothers and newborns as part of Just Read, Florida! ~~

TAMPA- -Laura Bush, Governor Jeb Bush and First Lady Columba Bush presented a mother and her newborn child with the first "I'm a Reader!" kit today at Tampa General Hospital, launching the latest component of the Governor's Just Read, Florida! initiative. The "I'm a Reader!" kit contains materials designed to increase parental involvement and create a positive reading environment at home. The kits are available in English, Spanish and Creole and will be distributed in hospitals to the parents of every newborn child.

Laura Bush also joined Governor Bush, First Lady Columba Bush, Lt. Governor Frank Brogan and Chairperson of Florida's Partnership for School Readiness David Lawrence at Governor Bush's Summit on Early Childhood Cognitive Development Ready to Read, Ready to Learn Conference today at the Tampa Marriott Waterside. The conference brought together early childhood development experts to discuss early childhood literacy.

"I applaud Governor Bush for launching the latest chapter in the 'I'm a Reader' kit," Laura Bush said. "The first five years of life are a critical time for children to develop the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive skills they will need for the rest of their lives. Infants and toddlers need parents and caregivers who understand the importance of these early years. On a national level, we launched Ready to Read, Ready to Lean, a program that informs parents and other caregivers on how to help their children acquire the skills they will need when they enter school."

One way Ready to Read, Ready to Learn information is being shared is through a series of booklets called Healthy Start, Grow Smart. They are colorful, easy-to-read booklets that provide month-to-month tips for new parents. The booklets contain useful information on infant brain development, health, safety and nutrition. They are available in both English and Spanish.

"Every child deserves a quality education, and a quality education begins with reading," Governor Bush said. "In Florida, we are prioritizing pre-k programs that are stimulating, nuturing, and based on the latest research. Columba and I are honored to have the nation's First Lady join us today to share her inspiring work on early learning and school readiness."

This past spring, Governor Bush asked his Office of Mentoring and Literacy Initiatives to prepare a statewide literacy program focused on new parents and their babies. Research shows that a baby derives great benefit from hearing words and being cuddled as a book is read. Reading to babies stimulates their cognitive development, which helps prepare the mind for absorbing and processing information as the child grows.

"Reading to our children immediately after their birth will help them to develop the necessary skills to be good readers in the future," Governor Bush said. "Reading is essential at every stage of a child's life, and parents are their first teachers. Through this new program we are providing parents the tools to positively impact the reading skills of their children."

Governor Bush's "I'm a Reader!" kit includes:

• Sunrise Skill Builders, a booklet with guidelines on the intellectual, physical, and social development stages for infants through early childhood;
• a library card application and the How to Raise a Reader brochure from the American Library Association. The brochure is a parent guide to help children learn how to read. For example, at home parents should practice the sounds of language by teaching their child rhymes, short poems and songs.
• a baby book donated by Scholastic;
• a bookmark promoting adult literacy programs and a statewide toll-free information hotline donated by the Florida Literacy Coalition. The bookmark is a resource for parents who are interested in improving their own skills. The toll-free number will refer adult learners to free programs in their areas offering reading, math, GED preparation and English as a Second Language classes.
• a "Welcome to the World" Hallmark card signed by Governor and First Lady Laura Bush, the First Lady of the Florida, with a special message about reading.

"I'm a Reader!" is provided through the Florida Hospital Association, Association of Florida Healthcare Auxiliaries/Volunteers, the Florida Literacy Coalition, children's publishing company Scholastic, Inc., the Florida Education Foundation, the Partnership for School Readiness, and Hallmark Cards. The Florida Literacy Coalition and corporate sponsors Mail Unlimited will oversee the fulfillment to more than 100 hospitals. The Florida Lottery will provide printing for 150,000 of the Skill Builders booklets and the Department of Education will print another 50,000 copies.

On September 7, 2001, Governor Bush signed an Executive Order creating Just Read, Florida! sun6.dms.state.fl.us/eog_new/eog/orders/2001/september/eo2001-260-09-07-01.html directing the Florida Department of Education to work with local school districts, educators, parents and community members to review current reading programs and make recommendations on reading standards, effective strategies and reading course requirements. Since that time, the state has established the Just Read, Florida! Office and secured over $300 million in federal funds to train educators. More than $60 million has been devoted to resources and programs designed to improve student reading skills with the goal of ensuring every child read at or above grade level by 2012.

Earlier this year Florida Hospital Association sent out a survey and introductory letter to every hospital in Florida with birthing facilities in order to gather information for shipment of the "I'm a Reader!" package. The Florida Literacy Coalition has confirmed that as of September 30, 193,987 of the 200,000 estimated births are scheduled for delivery of the "I'm A Reader!" kit in 2002-2003 cycle. This represents 96 hospitals that have already confirmed their first delivery.

Any hospital with a birthing facility or other organization that has a program to distribute literacy kits directly to hospitals can become a partner in this initiative. Please contact Lesley Dunmire for information on how to participate at no cost at dunmirel@floridaliteracy.org or call her toll-free at (800) 237-5113, or visit Florida Literacy Coalition's website for more information at www.floridaliteracy.org.

In the next year, Just Read, Florida! will continue training all K-3 teachers, provide competitive Reading First awards to school districts, and continue to work closely with parents, communities, and businesses to accomplish the goal of all children reading at or above grade level by 2012. Detailed information on the Just Read, Florida! initiative is available at www.myflorida.com/jrf .

To join the Governor's Just Read, Florida! Initiative as a literacy tutor for parents call the Florida Literacy Coalition at 1-800-237-5113 or visit www.myflorida.com