City of Birmingham and Birmingham City Schools Partner for Literacy Town Hall « The Official Site of the City of Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham, AL – Mayor of Birmingham, Randall L. Woodfin, and Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools, Dr. Mark Sullivan, will host a town hall on Tuesday, August 30 to encourage community support for K-3 literacy year. The event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Boutwell Auditorium, located at 1930 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr.

Parents of children in Kindergarten to Grade 3, local literacy groups, current and retired educators, faith communities and residents are invited to learn how to help Birmingham children reach their literacy level.

“I am committed to doing all I can to support Birmingham City Schools to help our scholars achieve their literacy goals,” Woodfin said. “Ensuring that our young people can read well is ensuring that they have the path to a better future.

“Birmingham City Schools welcomes all partnerships that help with teaching and learning,” Sullivan said. “We appreciate the support of the City of Birmingham, Mayor Randall Woodfin and City Council. We look forward to volunteers from across the region working with our fellows. They are our future leaders.

Next year, the state legislature will pass an amendment to Alabama’s literacy law that will require third-grade students who don’t pass Alabama’s comprehensive assessment program to repeat a grade. Last year, 43% of third year pupils in Birmingham and 41% of second year pupils were reading below grade level. The town hall event will showcase strategies to help support students who are struggling with reading at their grade level and hopefully prevent any blockages in their academic progress.

“Early literacy skills are integral to academic success,” Sullivan said. “From kindergarten to grade three, students learn to read. From third grade throughout their college careers, students read to learn.

“Improving our children’s reading skills is a community effort,” Woodin said. “I ask everyone in Birmingham to use their time and talent to rally around our young people to make sure they succeed.”

Earlier this year, the City of Birmingham partnered with Birmingham City Schools to improve student reading through Page Pals, an incentive program designed to produce more effective third year students indoors and out. outside the classroom. Birmingham students improved their reading skills while being rewarded with prizes. More information about Page Pals and other local literacy groups will be provided at the event at City Hall.

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