Branstad, Reynolds Announce Funding Raised for 2016 Intensive Summer Reading Pilot Study

Private gifts make up the majority of the $1.9 million total cost of the pilot study

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds at their Monday morning press conference today announced that funding has been raised to move forward with the 2016 Intensive Summer Reading Program pilot study—a project dedicated to assisting school districts in helping young students who struggle to read.  Private gifts of more than $1.3 million will cover the more than $1.9 million total cost of the pilot study.  Other contributors include the Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa Board of Regents.

Joining the governor and lt. governor in making the announcement was Bruce Rastetter, a Richard O. Jacobson board member,  and Dr. Deborah Reed, director of the Iowa Reading Research Center at the University of Iowa.

“Lt. Governor Reynolds and I are grateful for the generous private, public and in-kind contributions that are making this summer reading pilot study possible,” said Branstad.  “These contributions demonstrate the level of support Iowans have in making sure we are doing everything we can to help young students who are struggling to read at the end of third grade.”

Nearly 25% of third-graders did not read proficiently in 2014-2015 on state tests.  Beginning in 2017, school districts around Iowa will be required to provide high-quality summer reading programs for students with difficulty reading at the end of third grade.  The money raised for this pilot study will assist school districts in preparing for the requirement to offer those reading programs.

Lt. Gov. Reynolds added, “Our children will not be able to receive a globally competitive education unless they can read well from the start.  The governor and I want to do everything possible to support our local school districts as they work to make sure a high-quality summer reading program is ready to go by 2017.”

A full program budget can be found here.

Contributions to the 2016 Intensive Summer Reading Pilot Study are as follows:

Richard O. Jacobson Foundation                     $750,000

Anonymous Donor                          $300,000

Iowa Department of Education                      $250,000

Iowa Reading Research Center                         $100,000

Iowa Board of Regents                        $100,000

MidAmerican Energy                         $75,000

Patty and Jim Cownie Charitable Fund                           $50,000

William C. Knapp Charitable Fund                           $50,000

Iowa West Foundation                     $50,000

Wells Blue Bunny                          $15,000

ITC Midwest                        $5,000

Bankers Trust                          $2,500

Buena Vista University                     $2,000

Central College                        $2,000

Dordt College                        $2,000

Morningside College                        $2,000