LANSDALE – The North Penn School District is celebrating its 26^th year with the Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program. There are many activities that take place throughout the year through RIF for all of the first grade students in the district. A districtwide parent committee coordinates the efforts of the district RIF program. This committee meets in the beginning of the year with building reading specialists to share successes, resolve challenges and make suggestions that offer continuous improvement to the program.

There are three book distributions throughout the year at the first grade level: one in the fall, one in the spring and the final one in May or June. These book distributions are for the students’ personal libraries. Each first grade student has the opportunity to select and own a book three times per year at no cost. Each school selects a character or theme for the distributions and then plans special activities to promote reading in their school. Whenever possible, the themes and activities are tied directly to the curriculum. Activities include scavenger hunts, carnivals and skits with themes that often include book characters.

Book distributions are organized at each of the 13 elementary schools, with the help of parent volunteers and the building reading specialist. To kick off our RIF program off, a district-wide play entitled, “Alice Takes North Penn to Storyland.”  is presented to all first grade students, teachers, reading specialists and principals at North Penn High School celebrating  the importance of reading and literacy. Actors are comprised of community members, teachers, administrators, high school students and parents. This year, the show will be held in the North Penn High School Auditorium on Friday, October 21st from 10 to 11 a.m.

The collaboration to provide the RIF programs are co-sponsored between NPSD and UGI. This will be the 26^th  year the RIF program has been provided throughout the district. The RIF program in NPSD has inspired over  20,000 first grade students to love reading over the course of the 26 years and is vital in preparing and inspiring children to read. The program provides free books and literary activities to children and their families. It combines the essentials to good reading – motivation, excitement and family involvement.

About the Reading is Fundamental Program: Reading is Fundamental (RIF) was first started in Washington D.C. in 1966 by Margaret McNamara. In 1975, Congress created the “Inexpensive Book Distribution Program” (IBDP). This program provided federal funds to qualifying RIF sites.  Today, RIF is funded through federal or private funds. North Penn’s RIF program is funded partially through district funds and partially, privately, by UGI. There is an annual proposal to maintain involvement with RIF.

RIF VISION: Our vision is a literate America in which all children have access to books and discover the joys and value of reading.

RIF MISSION: To motivate young children to read by working with them, their parents and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF’s highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8.

RIF is America’s largest nonprofit children’s literacy organizations. The program does the following:

• Helps children want to read
• Provides free books for students
• Provides engaging reading-related activities
• Helps parents make reading a family priority by involving them in the program
• Involves community in a volunteer run program

Requirements:

• Minimum of 3 book distributions
• Provide reading motivation activities
• Inform and involve parents
• Form a book selection team
• Serve all students equally
• Let children have some choice when choosing books
• Provide a variety of books
• Keep within price limits
• Order books only from qualified RIF suppliers
• Submit book distribution reports/ performance reports