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The Texas Center for the Book announced that Catch Up & Read is the recipient of the second annual Texas Center for the Book Literacy Award. This $1,000 award, which honors a qualified non-profit organization that has made outstanding contributions to increasing literacy in Texas, is modeled on the Library of Congress’ s annual literacy awards. Funded by the Friends of Libraries & Archives of Texas (FLAT), the 2017 Literacy Awards this year also include an honorable mention awarded to Team First Book Matagorda County.
Catch Up & Read (CAR) is a Dallas based 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to bring at-risk elementary students up to grade level reading by the third grade. CAR’s after-school program helps the very lowest performing students on campus, providing additional time and repetition to work on reading. CAR curriculum includes scientifically based literacy strategies including data-driven instruction, guided reading, technology-based learning, collaborative best practices, ELL training, and social emotional learning. Statistics show 90% of students participating in Catch Up & Read reach grade level in one year.
Team First Book Matagorda County will receive this year’s $500 honorable mention. A local chapter of First Book, the nonprofit provides new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need. Through collaborative partnerships with educators and program leaders, Team First Book Matagorda County purchases and donates thousands of books to children in every library and school district (all Title I) across Matagorda County. First Book aims to transform lives by improving access to equal, quality education for all kids.
“We were delighted to receive close to 40 worthy applications from across the state in the second year of the Texas award. The purpose of this award is to highlight a winning organization, while promoting a greater appreciation and awareness of literacy efforts statewide,” said Texas Center for the Book Coordinator Rebekah Manley. “The judges saw Catch Up & Read as both deserving of the award and capable of providing a replicable model for other literacy organizations partnering with schools. We will partner with Literacy Texas and highlight other applicants to provide Texans the awareness and opportunity to support literacy efforts in their own backyards.”For more information on Texas Center for the Book initiatives, a project of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, visit www.tsl.texas.gov/centerforthebook or contact Rebekah Manley, Texas Center for the Book Coordinator, at rmanley@tsl.texas.gov or 512-936-2505.