Parents and students in Leon County will find new resources awaiting them in local schools when they return this fall, thanks to new literacy resource kiosks provided by the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR). The kiosks, stocked with grade-specific materials, were delivered in early August to 49 schools across the district.

The kiosks are an extension of READ UP, a research-to-practice partnership between FCRR and Leon County Schools.

"We're working with Leon County Schools to connect our institutions so that schools in our own backyard have access to evidence-based tools and resources that they feel they need,” said FCRR Director Nicole Patton Terry. “We are dedicated to making sure that children in Tallahassee have what they need to be reading well in school.”

Each kiosk was delivered outfitted with a variety of evidence-based resources, from student center activities designed for early readers, to college and career readiness materials for older students. Infographics on a wide range of reading-related topics were also included to help inform parents and caregivers.

FCRR Director Nicole Patton Terry, Title I Advisory Council Chair Talethia Edwards, and Principal Delshauna Jackson stand next to the FCRR Literacy Kiosk at Bond Elementary School.

In addition to supporting the needs of area children, families and schools, the initiative gave staff from across FCRR chance to interact with educators in their backyard.

“We spend much of our time conducting research in schools across Florida and the nation,” said Jennifer Dombek, research faculty on the Regional Educational Laboratory Southeast at FCRR. “Having the opportunity to visit individual schools to deliver evidence-based resources helps bring our work full-circle.”

The project was supported with funds from Florida State University’s Great Give, an annual 24-hour giving campaign designed to fund specific goals.

South City Foundation Education Chair Iris Wilson, LCS School Board Member Rosanne Wood, Principal Dr. Rhonda Flanagan, Media Specialist Mary Jo Peltier, and FCRR Director Nicole Patton Terry stand next to the FCRR Literacy Kiosk at Hartsfield Elementary School.

“FSU’s Great Give provided the platform and support to make this project a reality,” said Nathan Archer, director of FCRR’s Innovative Research Dissemination unit. “We were thrilled when we realized the campaign was nearing its goal. Every dollar donated meant another resource or kiosk was heading to a local school.”

Learn more about FCRR’s community partnerships at fcrr.org/village.