Allentown School District Foundation Offers Free Summer Reading Materials

Allentown School District Foundation Offers Free Summer Reading Materials

By K.C. Lopez

June 24, 2020

Summertime is typically a time for kids to get a break from school. It can also be a time for summer slide; the learning loss many children experience during summer vacation. And this year, COVID-19 class cancellations turned what’s typically a two month recess into six months.

WLVR’s K.C. Lopez reports, the Allentown School District Foundation is looking to combat literacy loss. 

Nearly 17,000 Allentown students have been out of class since March 16, making this summer crucial for children to stay engaged. 

Now the Allentown School District Foundation is giving 2nd and 3rd grade students activity books and 6th to 9th graders free subscriptions to The Morning Call.

Dan Bosket is the foundation’s president.

“It’s going to really be hard to gauge the total impact of COVID-19 because I know even in school districts that were really prepared to do virtual, online learning, they haven’t been spending the same amount of time in terms of online, virtual learning as they were in the classroom,” said Bosket.

Allentown students weren’t required to complete online lessons until the end of April as the district struggled to secure computers and internet connection for students learning from home. Over the next couple of months, newspapers will be delivered and activity books can be picked up at summer meal locations. 

Information on how to sign up your student is available at WLVR.org.

K.C. Lopez, WLVR News.