Pearson Corporate Sponsor of 2nd Annual Boston Public Schools Back-to-School Jamboree
Event To Showcase Jumpstart's Read For The Record Campaign and Pearson's New Reading Program for Boston Public Schools
Boston, MA (PRWEB) September 3, 2009
The education and technology company Pearson is a corporate sponsor of the 2nd annual Boston Public School Back-To-School Jamboree, to be held Saturday, Sept. 5, from 11 a. m. to 3 p. m. on City Hall Plaza. The event will feature live performances, health screenings, community resources, activities, prizes, and more.
Pearson will give away thousands of books at the event, including copies of the commemorative version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle, the official book for Jumpstart's fourth annual Read for the Record campaign (http://www. readfortherecord. org/site/PageServer), to be held on Oct. 8th. On this one day, more than one million children and adults, in thousands of settings across the world, will join together to break the record for the world's largest shared reading experience.
Attendees at the Back-to-School Jamboree will be able to actually meet The Hungry Caterpillar from 11 am to 12 pm, and from 1 pm to 1:30 pm, and participate in a large group reading of the book at 12 noon.
Pearson will also showcase the new reading program for Boston Public Schools' 25,850 students in kindergarten through grade 5. The district selected the research-based Scott Foresman Reading Street (http://pearsonschool. com/index. cfm? locator=PSZ16e&PMDbSiteId=2781&PMDbSolutionId=6724&PMDbSubSolutionId=&PMDbCategoryId=3289&PMDbSubCategoryId=28138&PMDbSubjectAreaId=&PMDbProgramId=30321), designed for students at all levels - including students who are on-level, struggling and at-risk learners, proficient and advanced readers, students with disabilities, and English language learners.
The new reading curriculum uses a combination of Reading Street and its companion intervention for struggling readers, My Sidewalks (http://pearsonschool. com/index. cfm? locator=PSZ16e&PMDbSiteId=2781&PMDbSolutionId=6724&PMDbSubSolutionId=&PMDbCategoryId=3289&PMDbSubCategoryId=28138&PMDbSubjectAreaId=&PMDbProgramId=28481). The program is supported by independent efficacy studies that show students in all socio-economic groups "significantly improved their reading achievement from 30-50%, often surpassing state requirements." Recent additional findings indicated "significant improvement for English language learners, enabling more than half of those in the study to enter mainstream classrooms within one year and be certified as 'Fluent English Proficient'."
"The Back-to-School Jamboree is a fun, worthwhile, and educational event, and it makes perfect sense for Boston-based Pearson to serve as corporate sponsors," said Mia Flores, Pearson's Boston representative. "This is a great opportunity for us to get everyone excited about the upcoming Read for the Record campaign next month, as well as give them a glimpse of the new Reading Street program their children are using in school."
"As Oct. 8th, Read for the Record day, approaches, we want to do all we can to raise awareness and encourage participation in this significant event," said Mark Nieker, president, Pearson Foundation. "As corporate sponsors of Boston's Back-to-School Jamboree, we can help shine the spotlight on the critical role that Jumpstart is playing in closing the gap in school readiness between children from low-income communities and their middle-income peers."
For more information about the Jamboree, visit http://www. bostonpublicschools. org/jamboree (http://www. bostonpublicschools. org/jamboree) or call 617-635-7750.
About Boston Public Schools
The Boston Public Schools serves more than 56,000 pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students in 135 schools, and in 2006 won the Broad Prize for Urban Education as the top city school district in the country. For more information, visit www. bostonpublicschools. org.
About the Pearson Foundation
The Pearson Foundation extends Pearson's (NYSE: PSO) commitment to education by partnering with leading nonprofit, civic, and business organizations to provide financial, organizational, and publishing assistance across the globe. The Foundation aims to make a difference by sponsoring innovative educational programs and extending its educational expertise to help in classrooms and in local communities. More information on the Pearson Foundation can be found at www. pearsonfoundation. org.
About Pearson
Pearson (NYSE:PSO), the global leader in education and education technology and services, provides innovative print and digital education materials for preK through college, student information systems and learning management systems, teacher professional development, career certification programs, and testing and assessment products that set the standard for the industry. Pearson's other primary businesses include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group. For more information about Pearson School, go to www. pearsonschool. com.
Contact:
Rod Granger
Pearson
212-641-6114
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