Summer reading programs expand as Arizona targets literacy gaps

By Stacy Mantle
Mail

As the school year winds down across Arizona, educators and literacy advocates are turning their attention to a familiar seasonal challenge: how to keep students reading when the structure of school disappears.

May marks “Get Caught Reading” Month, a national campaign designed to promote reading as a daily, visible habit. The initiative encourages children and adults to be “caught” reading in everyday settings, reinforcing the idea that literacy extends beyond the classroom.

For families, the message is straightforward: reading doesn’t pause for summer.

“Get Caught Reading” arrives at a time when many districts are working to address persistent literacy gaps. While in-school interventions have expanded in recent years, out-of-school time remains a critical and often overlooked piece of the equation.

“Make sure you’re connected with the child's teacher,” said Terri Clark, Read On Arizona. “Have them suggest simple things they can do at home. Become a partner in your child’s reading development.”.  

Building habits beyond the classroom

Literacy experts consistently point to one factor that influences whether children continue reading outside of school: what they see at home.

Parents and caregivers serve as a child’s first model for reading behavior. When reading is visible, accessible and normalized, children are more likely to engage with books on their own.

“We always recommend that kids see parents reading at home but we skip over the why — finding minutes in the day to read with your child is important because books help introduce children to vocabulary.” said Clark.

That doesn’t require structured lessons or formal instruction. Instead, it can look like small, consistent choices — reading together before bed, keeping books within reach and letting children choose what interests them.

“Make it a routine to go to the local library each Saturday and let kids choose the books that interest them,” Clark said. “You might be surprised what they choose.”

Making reading interactive and accessible

Organizations across Arizona are also working to make reading more engaging during summer. Community-based events, library programs and literacy challenges are designed to meet students where they are — both academically and socially.

“Reading over the summer helps children keep their skills up, and can build interest in books and libraries,” the American Library Association states in its recent report. 

Public libraries across Arizona use summer reading programs to combat “summer slide,” combining reading logs, incentives and interactive programming to keep students engaged outside the classroom. 

Families across Arizona can participate in Maricopa County Reads, a countywide summer program that rewards students for tracking reading time and participating in hands-on literacy activities. 

Phoenix Public Library supplements its summer reading program with free, family-friendly events, including storytimes, hands-on learning activities and weekly performances tied to reading themes.

Some libraries, such as the Phoenix Burton Barr Central Library tutoring program, are expanding beyond enrichment and offering structured reading support, including free tutoring programs for students who need additional help building literacy skills. 

For parents, the emphasis is shifting from obligation to engagement. Rather than focusing solely on reading levels or assignments, advocates encourage families to prioritize enjoyment and consistency.

That approach aligns with broader efforts to rethink how literacy is supported outside traditional school settings.

A visible, shared commitment to literacy

Campaigns like “Get Caught Reading” are built on a simple premise: when reading is seen, it becomes part of the culture.

Photos of community leaders, educators and students reading in everyday places — from parks to grocery stores — help reinforce that message. The goal is to make reading feel less like a task and more like a shared, visible norm.

“Parents who are frequent readers are one of the strongest predictors of children becoming frequent readers,” Scholastic officials wrote in their Kids & Family Reading Report.

As Arizona continues to invest in early literacy and long-term academic outcomes, maintaining momentum through the summer months remains a key focus.

For many families, May offers a starting point — one that doesn’t require a curriculum, just a book and a few minutes each day. LitHubAZ offers over 50 fun and easy ways to strengthen reading skills at home by grade level. 

And in a state working to strengthen literacy outcomes, those small moments can add up quickly.

Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter

smantle@iniusa.org

Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.

Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.

Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!

Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.

Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.