SCR 5 - Alaska Reads Day

• Proclaims March 2, 2019, as Alaska Reads Day to coincide with Dr. Seuss's birthday and the national Read Across America Day.

• Cites Alaska's chronic low reading proficiency rates: 27 percent stagnant from 2005-2013, only 30 percent of fourth graders proficient in 2016, and second-to-last ranking nationally in 2015.

• Requests public and private citizens and organizations work together on March 2, 2019, to raise awareness about the importance of reading to young children and independent reading.

• Emphasizes that students not proficient by third grade are four times more likely to drop out and that reading proficiency begins at birth through home exposure to words.

• Notes the awareness campaign can be implemented through private and public partnerships without requiring public funding.