GISD expands summer reading program to seven grade levels

GAINESVILLE, Texas — Gainesville ISD is expanding its Summer Reading Initiative to include three additional grade levels this year, district leaders announced at the May 3 school board meeting. The program, which began in 2021 with four grade levels, will now serve pre-K through sixth grade. The expansion adds pre-K and kindergarten on the early end and sixth grade on the upper end. The district reports 1,849 students enrolled in pre-K through fifth grade as of the May 3 meeting. Each participating student receives a pack of five books plus a reading log to track summer reading and notes. The school board approved the purchase of 1,120 book packs total, including 150 designed specifically for Spanish-speaking students. Superintendent DesMoines Stewart traced the program's origin to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many students faced disrupted classroom instruction. "Back during the COVID time, we realized at that particular moment that we had to do something in the area of literacy," Stewart told the board. He cited strong community response in the years since. "The program has been such a tremendous hit," Stewart said. Stewart also pointed to the program's role in encouraging family reading time. He noted that the take-home book packs let parents "sit down and read with their kids" during summer break — months when students traditionally lose ground on reading skills without structured engagement. The expansion reflects the district's continued investment in early literacy. Adding pre-K and kindergarten extends support to GISD's youngest learners, while including sixth grade keeps support in place through the transition into junior high. Information on summer reading distribution dates and individual school participation is available through Gainesville ISD or by calling the district office.