Brett Bayard of the Kiwanis Club of Lafayette joins Discover Lafayette to discuss the Rewards for Reading Program.

Since 2021, the Kiwanis Club of Lafayette has partnered with the Lafayette Parish Public School System and 24 of our parish Elementary Schools to offer the Reading for Rewards Program. This year, the program has expanded to include 36 schools, including middle schools. The goal is to inspire and excite our youngest students to read so that they can learn to love reading, thus do better in school and build a lifelong habit of reading.

Since Rewards for Reading’s inception, the level of participation and excitement for reading has skyrocketed.

Students earn points by participating in the school system’s Accelerated Reader (AR) program to become eligible for prizes. They earn one raffle ticket every nine weeks as they meet their AR goal, which goal is individualized and based upon each student’s reading level. Students can earn further raffle tickets by exceeding their goals.

Studies show that children who cannot read on grade level by 3rd grade are four times more likely to drop out of school. Third grade is a crucial time in a child’s education as students transition from learning to read, to reading to learn.

The Rewards for Reading program’s success is phenomenal. In its first year, 2021, The accelerated reader participation increased 58% in the second half, which school officials attributed to the program. That year, about $13k in prizes were distributed to children across the system.

This 2023-24 school year, the array of prizes to entice the students to read is amazing! Each school will be raffling off five bikes, scooters, Kindles and earbuds. Other fun prizes are also to be awarded.

Sponsors are needed to help ensure the program’s success. Visit https://www.lafayettekiwanis.org/donations/ to donate or email rewardsforreading@lafayettekiwanis.org for more information on sponsoring a school.

Thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Lafayette for your dedication to our community and helping our youngest citizens get off to a great start in life!