Every summer, something quietly happens to young readers. School lets out, routines shift and before long, the books get pushed aside. What follows is well-documented. Research consistently shows that students can lose up to two to three months of reading progress over the summer months – a phenomenon known as the “summer slide” or summer reading slump. For children already facing barriers to learning, those months of lost ground can be incredibly difficult to recover.
The good news? In Sangamon and Menard counties there are resources designed to keep kids reading, learning and growing all summer long.
United Way of Central Illinois is proud to provide Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to families across Sangamon and Menard counties. This beloved program mails one free, age-appropriate book every single month to enrolled children from birth through age 5 – at no cost to families. It’s a simple but powerful way to build a love of reading from the very beginning, long before a child ever sets foot in a classroom. Research has shown that children enrolled in Imagination Library arrive at kindergarten better prepared and more confident. If you have a child under 5 in Sangamon or Menard counties – or know someone who does – signing up is easy and completely free.
But the work doesn’t stop at early childhood. UWCIL is also a proud partner in Sangamon Pathways to Learning, a countywide collective impact initiative dedicated to expanding fair learning opportunities from early childhood all the way through career readiness. Sangamon Pathways to Learning brings together partners from schools, businesses, and government to share data, coordinate initiatives, and foster innovation – all with the goal of helping learners move smoothly through every stage of their education and into meaningful careers. The initiative is driven by a shared belief that a stronger learning community means a stronger economy and a stronger Sangamon County for everyone.
Summer is not a pause in a child’s development – it’s an opportunity. Whether it’s a board book arriving in the mailbox for a toddler or a coordinated community effort to keep older students on track, every resource matters. Every book matters. Every month matters.
This summer, UWCIL invites families, educators, and community members to take advantage of the tools available here at home. Enroll your child in DPIL today and follow us on social media to learn more about how Sangamon Pathways to Learning is building a brighter future for learners of all ages across our region.
Because the way to a stronger community begins with opportunity – and opportunity begins with learning.
Visit www.uwcilorg/dpil to sign up for or donate to DPIL.
Megan Reynolds is director of marketing and communications for United Way of Central Illinois.
