A Million Minutes by March SLPS Launches District-Wide Reading Challenge

St. Louis—Starting January 3, the St. Louis Public School District will launch a new family and community reading initiative entitled “A Million Minutes by March.” The district-wide program will challenge all students to read a minimum of twenty minutes each day outside of the classroom. The goal is to encourage children and teenagers to develop strong, lifelong reading habits; view reading as a rewarding leisure activity; and engage parents/guardians in their children’s educations.

From January through March, individual schools will host reading events. (Elected officials are scheduled to read at the schools on January 4 and 11.) Each school is also encouraged to give books to students and parents and chart student progress. District-wide minute totals will be announced monthly.

“We want students and their parents to read more outside the classroom,” said Superintendent Diana Bourisaw. “To accomplish this, we are enlisting the help of the community. We are asking adults to read to children or listen to them read. Book donations are also appreciated.”
MICDS (Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School) and other local organizations have already donated thousands of books. Corporate sponsors, such as Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., are partnering with the district to provide books and funding. Area churches, temples and synagogues are conducting book drives and encouraging their members to read.

For more information about “A Million Minutes by March,” event schedules and donations, contact Kate Stewart, Marketing Coordinator, at (314) 345-4694, kate.stewart@slps.org.