New York, NY (December 11, 2006) -- Lee y serás® (Read and You Will Be), an innovative national literacy initiative for preschoolers that engages families, educators and daycare providers in children’s early literacy development, is launching in Chicago with the graduation of its first class of parent participants. Following the graduation, a panel of education experts and community leaders will explore ways to ensure that children have the skills they need to be ready to learn when they start school. A lack of early literacy skills can hinder academic achievement throughout a child’s education, a trend seen nationally and in Chicago, where 85 percent of Latino 4th graders are reading below proficient level. This achievement gap has implications beyond the classroom. A recent report, The State of Latino Chicago, This is Home Now, points out that “Latinos’ disproportionate concentration in low-paying jobs along with discouraging school completion rates raises questions about their future levels of success, and indeed, the future of the region.”
 
Association House, an agency with more than 100 years of experience providing comprehensive community services, is offering Lee y serás to area families to help them better prepare their children for the future.  The initiative was developed by Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, The National Council of La Raza, a leading voice for Hispanic Americans in the United States, and the Verizon Foundation.  Lee y seras, with its multi-faceted approach that recognizes the strong, inherent literacy-building traditions of Latino culture, such as storytelling, poetry and song, emphasizes the role that parents play as their children’s first teachers.
 
The first “class” of Chicago Lee y serás parents graduates on December 12 at 9:30 a.m. at Association House, 1116 N Kedzie Avenue. Immediately following, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Julian Posada, General Manager, Hoy Newspapers, will moderate a panel discussion. Panelists include:

· Barbara Becker, Early Literacy Program Director, The Jane
  Addams Hull House Association 
· Marie Donovan, Ph.D. DePaul University, School of Education
· Deanna Durica, Policy Associate, The Ounce of Prevention Fund
· Wanda Figueroa-Peralta, Ph.D. Director of the Behavioral Health
  Division, Association House of  Chicago
· Rebecca Itzkowich, Senior Instructor, Erikson Institute
 
The panel discussion will also be available as a videocast on www.leeyseras.net the week of December 18. Additionally, the site provides access to valuable information and practical tools for families, especially those in emerging Hispanic communities, who want to help their children acquire the skills and knowledge they need to start school ready to learn.
 
“The web site unites communities nationwide in their efforts to promote Latino early literacy,” said Karen Proctor, Scholastic Vice President of Community Affairs. “The site…through podcasts, chat rooms, downloadables…brings research-based curriculum, culturally appropriate tools, and expert voices to anyone, anywhere, who is committed to ensuring that Latino children have the support they need to become strong readers and learners.”
 
“For decades Association House has been dedicated to empowering parents so they can help their families and children succeed in school and in life,” said Harriet Sadauskas, Executive Director of Association House.  “Through Lee y serás, we are able to further support the educational attainment of our families by showing them how they can foster their child’s early literacy skills.”
 
“Improving basic literacy skills is among the Verizon Foundation’s major priorities because of its enormous impact on education, health and economic development,” said Verizon Region President Gale Given. “Online resources such as Lee y serás and the Verizon Literacy Network expand teaching beyond the classroom to give parents and community leaders the tools they need to improve literacy and enhance future opportunities for their children.”
 
“Since ensuring a strong economy in today’s 21st century marketplace depends on having a highly educated and prepared workforce, Latino educational achievement is no longer only a moral matter but a pressing socioeconomic issue with significant implications for our nation and our community,” said Janet Murguia, NCLR President and CEO.
 
Lee y serás has launched in cities around the country including New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Dallas, as well as Danbury, Connecticut and San Jose, California.  The initiative will launch in Miami in early 2007.
 
About Lee y serás
Lee y serás® is a national Latino early literacy initiative that empowers and engages families and communities to foster children’s literacy development. By providing research-based, in-culture, and bilingual curricula and materials for families, childcare providers and leaders, the program's goal is to create long-term attitudinal and behavioral change in an effort to help close the education achievement gap. Created by and for the community, the initiative is a collaboration of Scholastic, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and Verizon.  For more information visit www.leeyseras.net.
 
About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology.  Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys.  The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site, www.scholastic.com.
 
About Association House
Association House has touched the lives of thousands of people each year, of all ages and of diverse ethnicities, one life at a time.  Its core mission is to offer services to economically disadvantaged individuals and families and offer programs in both English and Spanish.  Key program areas are Community Services, Child Welfare Services, Behavioral Health Services and the Learning by Association Community Technology Center.  Through these services, one of Association House’s overarching goals is to empower parents so that they can help their families and children succeed in school and in life. 
 
About the National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) – the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States – works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans.   Through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based organizations (CBOs) NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 41 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.  To achieve its mission, NCLR conducts applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy, providing a Latino perspective in five key areas – assets/investments, civil rights/immigration, education, employment and economic status, and health.  In addition, NCLR provides capacity-building assistance to its affiliates who work at the state and local level to advance opportunities for individuals and families. Founded in 1968, NCLR is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NCLR serves all Hispanic subgroups in all regions of the country.  NCLR has operations in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.  For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org.
 
About The Verizon Foundation
Verizon delivers technology that touches life.  The Verizon Foundation uses that technology and the foundation’s financial resources to improve literacy and K-12 education; to support victims of domestic violence; and improve the delivery of health care.  In 2005, the foundation awarded more than $74 million in grants to charitable and nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad.  The Foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, which is one of the largest employee volunteer programs in the United States and responsible for 2 million hours of community service since 2000 and $35.6 million in combined contributions to nonprofits in 2005 alone. For more information on the Foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation. 
 
About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 57 million customers nationwide. Verizon Business operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks.  Verizon Telecom is deploying the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers.  Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of approximately 250,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $90 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

 

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