Courtesy of the Hollister School District:
On August 25, 2020 the Hollister School District announced that all TK-3rd grade students would be challenged to read 100,000 words in Footsteps 2 Brilliance in 2020-2021! This goal was set as part of the district’s plan to ensure that children are strong readers by the end of 3rd grade. In 2020-2021, the district will be giving certificates and gifts to teachers whose classes read 1 million words, 1.5 million words, and 2 million words. F2B includes three early literacy apps in English and Spanish: (1) Footsteps2Brilliance School Edition (2) Clever Kids University Pre-Reader, and (3) Clever Kids University I Can Read.
After eight weeks of school, the district is proud to announce that every teacher’s classroom in the district is on track to surpass 1 million words read! Superintendent Diego Ochoa said, “I knew that our teachers and principals would work together to inspire students to read twenty minutes every day! I think this is a textbook example of having a clear goal, having trained staff, and effectively working with parents to ensure that we succeed.” The district is proud to announce that more than 300 students are on track to read over 250,000 words!
The district continues to work to close the vocabulary gap for low-income students and English learner students. The program gives every child the opportunity to read books in their home with the touch of a screen. Footsteps 2 Brilliance includes a curriculum filled with hundreds of English and Spanish books, games, and songs that can be used without any internet data. Families can download the app by using the school district’s free guest wifi. The student can then use the program on their parent’s phone, tablet, or computer and all their work is saved.
Teaching a child to read at grade level is like giving them a key to open any door to their future. The Footsteps 2 Brilliance program is an essential strategy in our plan to have students reaching and exceeding grade level. The countywide English and Spanish early literacy initiative, Footsteps 2 Brilliance, was brought forward by San Benito County Superintendent Krystal Lomanto several years ago. The San Benito County Office of Education chose to support the program because it enabled school districts to provide online libraries of Books, educational games, educational activities, and creative writing opportunities to every family.
For more information, contact Superintendent Diego Ochoa at [email protected].
