By: Van de Putte S.C.R. No. 19
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Texas is pleased to
recognize the Reach Out and Read program for its outstanding
efforts to ensure that young children are prepared to succeed in
school; and
WHEREAS, Reach Out and Read was developed by pediatricians
and early childhood educators to make literacy promotion a regular
part of pediatric checkups; and
WHEREAS, Studies have shown that exposure to books and
reading in the first years of life increases the probability of a
child's healthy development and success in school; approximately a
third of American children entering kindergarten lack the basic
language skills they need in order to learn to read, with children
living in poverty especially at risk; and
WHEREAS, Reach Out and Read addresses this problem by having
doctors and nurses go beyond traditional medical care to provide
parents with information on how to read to children at each
developmental stage; they further provide each young patient with
an age-appropriate book to take home, which serves to encourage
parents to make reading aloud a routine activity; and
WHEREAS, This exemplary program has been implemented in
nearly 250 clinics, hospitals, and military installations across
Texas and reaches more than 245,000 young Texans each year; it is
truly deserving of recognition for its record of success in
encouraging families to read together; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby commend the doctors, educators, and parents who participate
in the Reach Out and Read program for their exemplary work in
helping prepare children to succeed in school and in life; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for them
as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate and House of
Representatives.