The Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading partnered with summer 90 camp providers and summer learning academies to encourage reading and help reduce the “summer slide.”
Summer is a time of great inequity for young people. During the summer, many young people and their families lose access to critical support that keeps them safe, healthy, and engaged in learning. Research shows that children from asset-limited families can lose two months or more of reading skills over the summer, and children who do that consistently can wind up two years behind their classmates by the end of sixth grade. This decline is called the “Summer Slide.”
In 2022, the Suncoast Summer Book Challenge, funded by The Patterson Foundation, engaged summer providers from Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties to encourage children to read at least six books during the summer months. Students who participated in the Suncoast Summer Book Challenge received a brightly colored silicone bracelet for every book they completed.
11,204 children participated in the Suncoast Summer Reading Challenge and THIS BOOK IS COOL!, with 8,948 completing the challenge by reading at least six books. In total, they read 264,210 books!
*Data outcomes for 2022 will be available in October.
2021 Suncoast Summer Reading Challenge and THIS BOOK IS COOL!
County
Number of Participating Students
% of Children showing no Reading Skill Loss
Charlotte
1,603
72%
DeSoto
476
42%
Manatee
2910
54%
Sarasota
4,203
49%
4-County Total
9,192
55%*
*In addition, 21% of the children in Manatee and Sarasota counties lost less than 1 month of reading skill
2021 Suncoast Summer Reading Challenge: Charlotte and DeSoto
Summer providers
Fraction of children with no reading-skill loss
Sky Family YMCA | Franz Ross
89%
This Book is Cool Direct to Families | Charlotte
80%
Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte County
76%
Charlotte County Public Schools Summer Program | Peace River
73%
Sky Family YMCA | Bayfront
70%
Imagination Station
67%
Charlotte County Public Schools Summer Program | Vineland
65%
Charlotte County Public Schools Summer Program | Meadow Park
65%
Charlotte County Public Schools Summer Program | Liberty
63%
Sky Family YMCA | Charlotte Harbor
56%
Charlotte County Public Schools Summer Program | Deep Creek
55%
Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte County
50%
This Book is Cool Direct to Families | DeSoto
49%
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County (Arcadia)
10%
2021 Suncoast Summer Reading Challenge Totals: Manatee and Sarasota
*The average asset-limited child loses 2 to 2.5 months of reading skill during the summer
Summer providers
Average Months of Reading Skill Gained
Dive into Reading Gecko’s Pub and Grill | Oneco
4.8
The Salvation Army of Venice
2.1
Sarasota County Schools | Emma E. Booker
1.7
Dive into Reading Anna Maria Oyster Bar | Landside – Bayshore
1.3
Dive into Reading Anna Maria Oyster Bar | Cortez – H. S. Moody
1.2
Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County
1.2
D. L. Randall Foundation
1
O’Bricks Irish Pub
1
Dive into Reading O’Bricks Irish Pub | Rogers Garden-Bullock
1
Sarasota County Schools | Cranberry
1
Sarasota County Schools | Tuttle
1
Sarasota County Schools | Venice
0.9
Sarasota County Schools | Tatum Ridge
0.8
Dive into Reading Anna Maria Oyster Bar | Cortez – Prine
0.7
Sarasota County Schools | Brentwood
0.5
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County | Roy McBean
0.5
Sarasota Parks and Recreation | Longwood
0.4
Sarasota County Schools | Gocio
0.4
Dive into Reading Anna Maria Oyster Bar | Landside – Daughtery
0.3
Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County | Palmetto
0.3
Bizzy B2 Childcare Center
0.2
Sky Family YMCA | Venice
0.2
Dive into Reading Anna Maria Oyster Bar | Landside – Abel
