Turning the Paige on Literacy in Hillsborough County Public Schools
Meet Paige.
She’s fun, she’s engaging and she’s filled with books!
She is Hillsborough County Public Schools’ newest literacy resource—Paige the Literacy Bus!
Paige’s mission is to provide early access to resources and promote literacy beyond the classroom. She is geared toward our younger learners up to age 5.
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When children step onto the bus, they’re greeted by a splash of bright colors and fun spaces. There is a mobile computer lab, cozy reading nooks, an outside reading space and educational toys.
Hillsborough County Public Schools has worked hard to make Paige a reality, but school board member Dr. Stacy Hahn has been the driving force behind the bus.
“As a school board member, I’ve been a steadfast advocate for literacy, and the Early Childhood Literacy Bus has been my passion project aimed at sparking a lifelong love of reading in children and ensuring families have equitable access to vital educational resources,” says Dr. Hahn.
“Collaborating with the school district on this initiative underscores our commitment to fostering a community where literacy is highly valued, empowering every child and family through the transformative power of literacy. I’m so excited to launch the Early Childhood Literacy Bus in our community this summer!”
Her excitement is contagious; Paige the Literacy Bus has been a hit. This is a good thing considering that literacy is one of Superintendent Van Ayres’ primary goals heading into this school year. In fact, Van Ayres, along with his staff, is launching an initiative called Hillsborough Reads – Rise in 5.
The goal is simple: to increase the number of at and above grade-level students reading within five years.
Reading is the key to success. Children who read at the appropriate grade level are more likely to foster a love of learning and an inquisitive mindset.
However, there are two factors that weigh heavily on whether a child will be a successful reader. The first is whether they receive early childhood education, and the second is attendance.
Early childhood education is vital to becoming a strong reader. Children must be read to at an early age, they must have access to books, and it’s extremely beneficial if they attend Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK). Enrolling a child in VPK is an essential ingredient to their literacy success. VPK teaches children about sounds, words and language, which helps them build a solid foundation of literacy before even reaching kindergarten. The advantage is indescribable.
In Hillsborough County Public Schools, we have more than 1,800 seats available in our free VPK programs. Parents can also apply for free VPK through the Early Learning Coalition.
The other factor to literacy success is attendance.
A child has a better chance of thriving in the classroom if they are in front of one of our high-quality teachers. Every day matters.
It’s easy, especially in those elementary school years, to think that missing a day of school here and there may not make a huge difference in a child’s education.
It does.
Students who miss more than 18 days of school every year are less proficient in reading, writing and math compared to their peers with good attendance.
And from there, a domino effect is created. Students who are still falling behind benchmarks by third grade are less likely to graduate high school.
“I cannot say it enough. Reading is the key to success,” says Van Ayres. “Hillsborough Reads – Rise in 5 is our way of focusing on literacy through two factors we can influence: early childhood education and attendance.
If we succeed in getting children to school at a young age and stressing the importance of being in school every day, we are closer to making our students stronger readers.”
Here are some ways Hillsborough County Public Schools staff are working to make our kids stronger readers:
- Paige will visit community events to encourage younger children to get excited about reading and learning. Parents can also check out resources on the bus that will help them learn more about supporting their children when it comes to literacy.
- Our district is also very excited about the UFLI literacy curriculum that teachers have been using for the past year. UFLI is curriculum created by the University of Florida for teachers, by teachers and with teachers in mind. The results are off the charts.
- Hillsborough County Public Schools also takes part in the RAISE High School Tutoring Program. That’s when 11th and 12th graders can earn community service hours by working with young students to help them read. This summer, 65 high school students became RAISE tutors and spent their break helping to teach literacy to kindergarten through second graders.
- With the help of our community partners at myON.com, our district has also created a goal of 2,000,000 minutes of reading for the upcoming school year. There will be awards and prizes for students who log the most minutes. This not only encourages literacy, but also independent reading at home.
- Hillsborough County Schools also takes part in the New Worlds Reading Initiative. This initiative will send a new book to your child every month through grade 5 if they are not reading on grade level. Go to NewWorldsReading.com for more information.
Reading opens the door to so many wonderful opportunities and is linked to better employment opportunities and higher earning potential. Reading strengthens communities and economies in the long term.
So, next time you’re at a community event and see Paige the Literacy Bus roll on up, go say hi and check out all the amazing resources on board for you and your little one!
If you’re interested in having Paige the Literacy Bus at your next event, contact Tara Tallon-Stone, Coordinator for Early Learning Literacy at 813-272-4502 or tara.tallon-stone@hcps.net.
*Presented by Hillsborough County Public Schools | Originally published in the August 2024 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.