Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 8, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Highlights Success of Reading Initiatives, Honors Summer Reading Challenge Grand Prize Winner in Seattle

Gov. Gary Locke today awarded the grand prize for the 2004 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge to a Seattle student during a ceremony at the new Central Library in downtown Seattle. Locke also highlighted the success of the reading initiatives he has led as governor. More than 100 people attended the ceremony, including students, teachers, librarians, parents, and business and community leaders.

Eleven-year-old Brian Hughes of Seattle was selected at random to win the grand prize trip for four to Disneyland for participating in the 2004 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge. Hughes is a 7th grader at Mercer Middle School. He participated in the challenge through the Rainer Scholars and the Seattle Public Library. His 9-year-old sister, Shannon, also met the governor’s challenge and attended the ceremony with other members of the Hughes family. Locke also awarded several book prizes to other challenge participants.

More than 16,000 Washington children participated in the 2004 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge – an increase of nearly three times the total number of participants from the previous two years. Locke had urged all Washington students under the age of 18 to read 15 hours or more before Labor Day and report their success to him via e-mail or letter. Students participated through various summer reading programs at their libraries or schools, or by reading on their own.

The governor started the challenge in 2002 to encourage Washington students to continue reading during summer vacation and add to the reading gains they made during the school year.

“Reading is the key to your academic success,” Locke told the students at today’s ceremony. “I’m proud of all the young people who met my challenge. You are all winners because you are all good readers.”

Sponsors of the 2004 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge were Comcast, Alaska Airlines, Page Ahead and Verizon. Locke also acknowledged the work of his reading challenge partners:
·State and public libraries;
·Washington Reading Corps members and staff;
·The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; and
·The National Children’s Reading Foundation.

“I’d especially like to thank the libraries across the state for their hard work in promoting the challenge,” Locke said. “More than half of the children who met our challenge either participated through or heard about the challenge from their local library.”

Locke also highlighted the success of the other reading initiatives he has led during his eight years in office:

Washington Reading Corps

In 1998, Locke created the Washington Reading Corps – working in partnership with Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson and the state Legislature – to help kindergarten through sixth graders who need help with reading.

“This is truly a success story,” Locke said. “I am so proud of the Washington Reading Corps and the thousands of volunteers who are helping so many of our students become better readers. With the help of the Washington Reading Corps, these students are able to make two-years worth of gains in just eight months – and be on par with their peers.”

Since the program began in 1998, approximately 75,000 students have participated in the Washington Reading Corps. Currently, the Washington Reading Corps serves more than 10,000 students in 131 schools across Washington. More than 8,000 volunteers are working with the Washington Reading Corps to help children become stronger readers this school year.

Reading School of the Month

In January 2002, Locke and Bergeson created the Washington State Reading School of the Month. They travel to a different school every month during the school year to recognize struggling schools that made drastic changes to become outstanding reading schools. They have rewarded a total of 19 schools with Reading School of the Month awards.

“This valuable program must continue,” Locke said. “We must reward schools and students for making great gains in reading, and encourage those who are still struggling not to give up hope.”

Emphasis on the Importance of Reading

Locke said the 2004 Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) illustrates the great gains Washington students are making in reading:
·In 1997, 48 percent of 4th graders met the state reading standard. This year, 74.4 percent passed.
·In 1998, 38.5 percent of 7th graders met the reading standard. This year, 60.4 percent passed.
·In 1999, 51.5 percent of 10th graders met the reading standard. This year, 64.4 percent passed.

Locke also said Washington students are making some of the biggest academic gains in the entire nation, especially in reading.

“Our students had strong performances on the latest S.A.T., the ACT college-readiness exam, and the Iowa Test of Basic Skills,” he said. “The National Assessment of Education Progress reported that our 4th and 8th graders scored above the national averages in reading and writing. And Washington led the nation last year in reading scores for African-American 4th graders.”

“I am proud of all of the progress our schools and students have made in reading during our administration,” Locke continued. “Reading is so important – it’s the key to lifelong learning. I encourage parents to read to their children from the time they are born.”

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