Hundreds of students get free books from Read Across Columbia

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

More than 600 kids at Columbia Public Schools got new books Tuesday at Blue Ridge Elementary School as part of the Read Across Columbia program.

The program provides books to first- and second-grade students at five elementary schools with the lowest reading proficiency scores and highest free-and-reduced-price lunch rates. In their partnership with the district and MU Health Care, the United Way gives 2,600 books to 650 kids every spring and fall.

CPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood said students who have access to books are more successful.

“In other words, the success of our scholars is directly linked to the ability to read and read well,” Yearwood said. “Programs like this with United Way, MU Health coming on board and helping us with that — this is exactly what we need from our community to help promote literacy for scholars.”

The students who received books are from Benton, Blue Ridge, Alpha Hart Lewis, Derby Ridge and Parkade elementary schools.