Each summer, the Public School Foundation helps students stay engaged in reading and ready for the year ahead. Through Books Over Break and Summer Story Time, PSF puts books directly into students’ hands and empowers them to choose what they love to read.
Research shows that access to books at home and self-selection are key to building strong readers. By expanding access and creating joyful reading experiences, PSF is helping students grow in confidence, curiosity, and success.
Details
Before school lets out for summer, K–8th grade students who may not have books at home are invited to self-select books to take home, keep, and read over the summer, building their personal libraries and encouraging independent reading.
Throughout the summer, CHCCS teachers and staff visit 22 economically disadvantaged neighborhoods multiple times, hosting Summer Story Time sessions with read-alouds, snacks, and engaging activities. These gatherings welcome the whole family, with parents often attending alongside their children and older siblings joining as well, helping strengthen connections between schools and families.
Each year, PSF hosts a community-wide book drive, collecting more than 15,000 new and gently used high-interest books to support these programs and expand access to reading.
How can you help?
These events ensure students have access to books and keep reading throughout the summer months.
