DATE: March 5, 2015
CONTACT: Kimberly Maroe, Public Information Manager
Broward County Commission
PHONE: 954-357-8053
EMAIL: kmaroe@broward.org
BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Broward County Commissioner Beam Furr will co-chair the newly created Children's Services Council (CSC) Broward Literacy Coalition as they launch Broward's Grade Level Reading Campaign targeting third graders.
Commissioner Furr joins co-chairs Brian Kingsley, Acting Chief Academic Officer for the School Board of Broward County and Chuck Hood, CEO of the Broward Early Learning Coalition and countywide stakeholders all working to improve the literacy rate in Broward County.
"This coalition, under the umbrella of Broward County Children's Strategic Plan, brings together dedicated individuals and community partners at the forefront of literacy and education in Broward County. Reading proficiency by the third grade is the most important predictor of high school graduation and career success. By third grade children should be transitioning from learning to read to reading to learn," noted Commissioner Furr.
According to the 2014 Broward FCAT scores, of the more than 20,000 students assessed in third grade, 43% were NOT at level 3 in reading proficiency. According to national reading assessment data, 74% of students who fail to read proficiently by the end of third grade fall behind in later grades and often drop out before completing high school. The goal of Broward's Grade Level Reading Campaign is to ensure that more children in low-income families succeed in school and graduate prepared for college, a career, and active citizenship.
The Coalition puts numerous community partners all under one banner. Partners such as Broward County Libraries, Nova Southeastern University, Broward College, FAU, the Broward County Bar Association, Urban League of Broward County, Family Central, Inc., United Way, and the Memorial Healthcare System are all focused on coordinating their resources toward filling the gap to grade level reading. The coalition also brings together a network of literacy providers, volunteers, businesses, social service agencies, children's advocacy groups and individuals concerned with raising literacy rates in Broward County.
The CSC Literacy Coalition will focus on bringing together stakeholders and policy makers to promote school readiness and quality teaching, tackle chronic absenteeism, improve summer learning opportunities and engage parents as their children's first teachers.
Commissioner Furr was appointed to the Children's Services Council of Broward County by the Broward County Commission for his experience and longtime service as a child advocate. He began his teaching career in the 1980's spanning 26 years for the Broward County School Board. Knowing that strong families are attracted to areas with good schools, he created the Born to Read program. This program stationed a librarian/reading specialist in the South Broward Health Department's Pediatric Clinic, where children who were "at risk" (uninsured or underinsured) would receive health services.
Commissioner Furr served on the Hollywood City Commission for twelve years prior to being elected to the Broward County Commission in 2014 where he represents residents of Hollywood, Hallandale Beach and Pembroke Pines (District 6).
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