{"id":2221,"date":"2023-07-20T19:41:37","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T19:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.newworldsreading.com\/?p=2221"},"modified":"2026-03-10T15:42:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T15:42:15","slug":"free-florida-reading-program-expands-eligibility-to-vpk-students-just-in-time-for-back-to-school-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newworldsreading.com\/es\/free-florida-reading-program-expands-eligibility-to-vpk-students-just-in-time-for-back-to-school-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Free Florida Reading Program Expands Eligibility to VPK Students Just in Time for Back-to-School Season"},"content":{"rendered":"
The New Worlds Reading Initiative will continue to support Florida families and children by delivering free books and reading resources directly to VPK-5th grade students this school year!<\/h6><\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Parents and guardians can apply for their child to participate in New Worlds Reading<\/a><\/strong> today!<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Florida, July 19, 2023<\/strong> \u2013 As the school year begins for millions of students across Florida, the UF Lastinger Center for Learning\u2019s New Worlds Reading program is continuing its commitment to boost literacy rates by expanding program eligibility to Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Florida\u2019s most recent legislative session, the state-created program received bipartisan support for the program\u2019s expansion, allowing families with children in VPK programs who are not yet making age-appropriate progress according to FAST results to apply and receive free books and reading resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Florida, there are more than 861,000 eligible VPK-5th grade students not yet reading on grade level. A first-of-its-kind, statewide literacy program, New Worlds Reading was created to tackle this issue by delivering nine free books and literacy resources a year directly to the doorsteps of eligible children. Since New Worlds Reading\u2019s launch in December 2021, more than 3.7 million books have shipped to 259,980 children across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VPK students<\/a><\/strong> in Florida who are not making age-appropriate progress according to FAST results and K-5th grade students who are not yet reading on grade level in a public or district-sponsored charter school are eligible to apply for New Worlds Reading today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re thrilled that New Worlds Reading has grown to support even more Florida kids,\u201d<\/strong> said Dr. Shaunt\u00e9 Duggins, Associate Director for the New Worlds Reading Initiative. \u201cAt New Worlds Reading, we are committed to fostering a love for learning, connecting families and communities, and sharing the magic of reading with students across the state. We\u2019re excited to partner with eligible students and their families to provide support!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

New Worlds Reading delivers free books to students in English, Spanish, Haitian-Creole and braille, and thanks to exciting new developments, families can now select the exact sets of books they will receive this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cReading has always been a challenge for my child, but New Worlds Reading has really given his reading skills a jump start. He gravitates to books that are funny, so it\u2019s been great receiving stories that make him laugh. He also gets to learn about things like nature and science,\u201d<\/strong> said Cecilia Masi, a New Worlds Reading parent to a 2nd grade student. \u201cThe program has helped my child build foundational reading skills that I know will help set him up not only for the next school year, but his entire life.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning administers the program with its selected partner Scholastic, the global children\u2019s publishing, education and media company. The UF Lastinger Center\u2019s mission is to improve the quality of teaching, learning, and childcare. We research, develop, and scale equitable educational innovations for adults and children that put all learners on trajectories for lifelong success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Worlds Reading develops book lists in collaboration with the Florida Department of Education\u2019s Just Read! Florida office. Parents and caregivers can learn more when they visit New Worlds Reading\u2019s website<\/a><\/strong>, or stay informed through Facebook<\/a><\/strong>, Instagram<\/strong><\/a> and Twitter<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Download press release<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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About the UF Lastinger Center for Learning:<\/h6><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Housed within the University of Florida College of Education, the Lastinger Center for Learning is an education innovation hub that develops solutions designed to improve outcomes across three education milestones: kindergarten readiness, reading proficiency by third grade, and algebra proficiency by ninth grade. The Lastinger Center\u2019s innovations serve children and educators in every community in Florida and have expanded both nationally and globally. The remarkable scope of the Lastinger Center\u2019s work and the impact of its collective efforts have drawn state, national, and international recognition and investment. Learn more at lastinger.center.ufl.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About New Worlds Reading:<\/h6><\/div>\n\n\n\n

New Worlds Reading is Florida\u2019s free at-home literacy program to help eligible VPK through fifth-grade students strengthen literacy skills and foster a lifelong love of reading. Eligible kids can receive 9 free books tailored to their interests each school year with resources and activities for caregivers and children to use together. New Worlds Reading is administered by the UF Lastinger Center for Learning. Book titles are selected in partnership with the Florida Department of Education and Scholastic. Books and materials are available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and braille. Learn more at newworldsreading.com.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The New Worlds Reading Initiative will continue to support Florida families and children by delivering free books and reading resources directly to VPK-5th grade students this school 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