El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) is gearing up for a celebration of the written word as it prepares to hold its annual Read Across the District event this Friday. According to the El Paso ISD, the festivities are set to launch at Hart Elementary School at 10 a.m., where students and staff will exhibit their enthusiasm for reading. The event is part of a district-wide initiative, supported by the Library Services Department and the Teaching and Learning Division, to emphasize the importance of reading and encourage the joy that comes from picking up a book.
While Hart Elementary will be where the official festivities begin, schools throughout El Paso ISD will join in on the RAD celebrations on Nov. 7. The same press release also mentioned that children’s author Lisa Caprelli, known for her Unicorn Jazz series, will spend the afternoon at Hart Elementary, interacting with students and sharing her passion for storytelling and literacy.
EPISD's efforts to promote reading come in the wake of its recent accolades. The latest Texas Education Agency (TEA) Accountability Ratings have shown that the district has surpassed pre-pandemic reading levels, a significant achievement following the challenging shifts in educational landscapes. Coupled with their Reading and Language Arts distinction designations, EPISD is looking to maintain the upward trajectory of literacy among its students.
Going beyond the school day, EPISD has also introduced "Buenas Noches, El Paso," an initiative that engages families in the literary experience. Inviting local leaders to read children's books aloud, the program aims at sharing stories during common family moments such as dinner time or bedtime routines. "By inviting the community to join us for nightly reading moments, El Paso ISD hopes to help cultivate lifelong readers and strengthen family literacy at home," as per El Paso ISD.
