Good News From Grantees: Duff McDuff Green, Jr. Fund grants StoryBook Treasures at local elementary school

Park Ridge Elementary in Stafford County received an infusion of resources last school year thanks to a grant from the Duff McDuff Green, Jr. Fund of The Community Foundation. Each of the 180 kindergarten students received five books they learned about in their classes and took home to share with their families. In addition to the books, students received treasures and learning materials to enrich the experience of young readers courtesy of the StoryBook Treasures (SBT) program. This opportunity, designed by educators to bridge the achievement gap among disadvantaged and minority children, has cultivated a love for reading among these young learners. 

“My students were so excited about each and every book,” a participating teacher reported.

This initiative arrived at a pivotal moment in their academic journey last school year. Standardized reading scores witnessed an impressive 18% surge in students reading at grade level compared to the previous year.  

Surveys among parents and teachers underscore the program's tangible impact, revealing heightened student engagement and increased parental involvement in reading. Parents have shared that their children are more involved in reading at home and noticed gained confidence with reading skills. 

A teacher describes the lasting impact, "students are still reading copies of their SBT books from our classroom library." "They continue to make connections from their own lives to the books," the teacher pointed out. The teacher went on to say that the students love having their toy to maintain connection to the reading material and reports that many of them have gone to the public library to find more StoryBook Treasures books and books written by the same author. 

The stark improvement is evident when analyzing assessment data with a notable increase in students meeting proficiency levels. The substantial leap highlights the program's efficacy in empowering these kindergarteners with essential literacy skills, setting them on a path toward academic success at a crucial time. 

To learn more about grant programs, contact Casey Hu, Director of Donor Services, at Casey.Hu@cfrrr.org or 540-373-9292 x123.