DES MOINES, Iowa — Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education have announced an investment of over $3.5 million to provide first graders with books at home. According to a press release, every first-grade student will be provided with decodable book packs to take home and keep, reinforcing classroom instructions to support reading development at home. The decodable books are written for beginning readers and use simple words to help students connect letters and sounds. The books are sequential in nature and will progressively introduce more complex skills.

Kindergarten through second-grade students in need of support who attended a department-funded high-quality summer reading program or a Learning Beyond the Bell out-of-school program this year will also receive decodable book packs to further advance their reading gains. The book packs are customizable and available at multiple reading levels so students can practice reading outside the classroom, according to the release. Each decodable book includes a QR code with access to video lessons for active family engagement.

In total, more than 100,000 book packs will be sent to all public and accredited nonpublic schools across the state this winter. Schools and families do not need to apply as books will be sent directly to them.

For more information on literacy instruction in Iowa visit the Department’s Literacy Instruction webpage and for more information on the Just Right Reader, click here.